Low-cost rabies clinics for pets planned across Mobile County on Saturdays in September

Every month, the Mobile County Health Department’s veterinarian provides hundreds of residents with low-cost vaccines for their dogs, cats and ferrets at a variety of locations.

Between September 2013 and August 2014, the MCHD Rabies Officer provided 2,325  rabies vaccines to domesticated pets. The state of Alabama tasks local Health Department’s with providing rabies vaccinations to pet owners.

Here’s a list of the weekend rabies clinics planned for Saturdays during September in Mobile County:

·         8:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 6, Georgetown community, mile marker 18, on Byrd Cemetery Road, off Lott Road.

·         1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 13, Pet Supplies Plus, 803 Hillcrest Road

·         7 a.m. to noon, Sept. 20, Eddie Smith’s Country Store, 14045 Celeste Road

·         1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sept.  27, B&B Pet Stop, 5035 Cottage Hill Road

The cost of the shot is $8 per pet, except at B&B Pet Stop, where the cost is $10. Payment must be made in cash, health officials said.  

About Rabies: Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system. It is transmitted from infected mammals to man and is fatal once symptoms appear. Symptoms of rabies include unusual behavior, irritability, headache, fever, inability to eat or drink, balance problems, circling, seizures, coma, and, finally, death. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies.

Exposure to rabies may be minimized by eliminating all stray cats and dogs; having pet dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated; staying away from wild animals, especially those acting abnormally; and not keeping exotic or wild animals as pets, health officials said.