Hot Springs Animal Services will host a low-cost rabies vaccination drive for dogs and cats from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in Transportation Plaza near the Veterans Memorial of Garland County on Orange Street.
The drive is open to all Garland County residents whose pets are at least 4 months old. Rabies vaccinations, required by state law, will be offered for $5. Regular rabies vaccinations are required thereafter, depending on the vaccine used by the veterinarian administering it.
Animal Services Director Dan Bugg said the state of Arkansas recognizes a three-year rabies vaccination, while the Rabies Control Act stipulates the animal must have a one-year vaccination prior to becoming eligible for the three-year vaccination.
"So, once they've had the one-year and that has expired, then they're eligible for the three-year," Bugg said. "So we're going to give them the one-year on Saturday -- because I don't know who's going to be in line there, all I can do is the one-year."
Bugg said there were several cases of rabies in Hot Springs over the course of one week in March, though there hasn't been a documented case of rabies in the city since then.
"I got to thinking about the rabies shot and the licenses so I figured I'd try to make it as easy as I could to get folks the licensing, and we're concerned about rabies in our local area here, so we decided we would have a low-cost rabies clinic and offer licenses while we're there," he said.
This isn't the first time Animal Services has offered a rabies vaccination clinic to the public, Bugg said, recalling a large rabies outbreak in Hot Springs in 2013.
"We did four clinics over a month period at different locations around the county. We took donations and people donated enough money to pay for at least half of what we did, so that was a wonderful thing," he said.
The rabies vaccine will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with a total of 1,000 vaccinations available. Cats must be brought in a pet carrier and remain in the carrier while being vaccinated.
Bugg said because of the interest already being shown on social media, he expects they will administer at least 600-700 vaccinations on Saturday.
"But, I will have 1,000 doses of vaccine there. If we can get 1,000 done we'll do that, but that's our goal," he added.
Licenses for dogs and cats, required by city ordinance, will also be sold at the event with a $10 annual fee for a fixed pet or $20 for a lifetime license for a fixed pet. If a pet is lost and turned in to Animal Services, a license can promptly reunite the pet with its owner. Proof of rabies vaccination from a licensed vet is required in order to obtain a license which are sold at the Hot Springs Animal Shelter, 319 Davidson Drive, on weekdays from noon to 5 p.m.
Local on 05/11/2017