Pet Owners Encourged to Plan Now for Fall Rabies Clinic at NE GA Animal Shelter

As we have been telling you over the years, there is no cure for rabies either in pets or in people, but you can protect them and your family.

That’s why the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter will be holding their fall rabies clinic later this month.  This is the shelter’s second low-cost rabies clinics of the year.

According to Shelter manager Sheri Lockhart, the clinic will be held Saturday, October 24th.

“The clinic will take place from 10a to 3p at the shelter on Bear Creek Road off SR17 in Lavonia, Lockhart said.  “Rabies vaccines are $5 for a one-year vaccine, $10 for a 3-year.   Rabies vaccines for horses will be $15.  Distemper shots for dogs and cats will run $7 each.”

Lockhart said in addition to the rabies vaccines, they will also be offering free microchips.

According to Lockhart, microchips are a reliable and permanent way for your pet to be identified if lost or stolen and turned in to a shelter.
“It’s a free microchip. You’re just paying for the registration. The vet office will do the registration for you. You just fill out the paperwork. They will send it for you and you’re done,” Lockhart said.
Lockhart said in order for your pet to receive a three-year rabies vaccine, they must have had a one year vaccination last year.

And has you heard, they will be vaccinating horses for rabies as well.

We don’t often think of large animals, such as horses, contracting rabies, but Lockhart said they are just as vulnerable to the disease as any other household pet, and she encourages horse owners to bring their horses out to get their annual rabies vaccine as well.

“It’s not uncommon for a horse to be bitten on the leg while grazing or out in the pasture during the night and you never know it until it’s too late, ” she said. So, for $15 you can have that peace of mind that your horse will be protected from rabies,” she said.

Lockhart said there is plenty of room on the shelter grounds for horse trailers.

Again the rabies clinic is Saturday, October 24 at the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter on Bear Creek Road in Lavonia from 10a to 3p.

You don’t have to be a resident of Franklin County to take advantage of the low-cost rabies shots. 

Lockhart reminds pet owners to make sure cats are in a secure carrier and dogs are on a leash.