Free rabies clinic to be held today

The second in a series of free rabies vaccination clinics will be held today at 12: 30- 3 p. m., at the Cutter Morning Star parking lot.

John Seales Animal Services Director Dan Bugg said pet owners living anywhere in Garland County including the city of Hot Springs can get their dogs and cats vaccinated free of charge at today’s clinic. He said a $ 6 donation to cover the cost of each vaccination will be accepted but not

required. The Garland County Quorum Court in May appropriated $ 6,000 to pay for the rabies vaccine.

Bugg said local veterinarian Brian Peters will administer the vaccinations. Bugg said pet owners must present identification showing their home address before a rabies shot is given to their pet( s). He said rabies certificates will be completed with a veterinarian’s signature showing the pet owner’s name, address and telephone number plus the breed, age, color and sex of the dog or cat receiving the inoculation.

The next free rabies clinic is set for 12: 30- 3 p. m., June 16, at the Fountain Lake School Intermediate School parking lot on Highway 7 north.

Some 400 pet owners had their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies at the June 2 rabies clinic at Lake Hamilton Intermediate School.

Bugg said vaccinating dogs and cats can deter rabies outbreaks in the county. In Arkansas, rabies is primarily carried by bats and skunks. A skunk recently discovered wandering about in the daytime in the Fox Chase Road area west of Hot Springs tested positive for rabies. Bugg said a cat, bat and skunk sent to a Little Rock laboratory on Monday tested negative for rabies.

The Arkansas Department of Health on Thursday issued a map depicting rabies outbreaks in Arkansas. According to the map, two bats and four skunks have tested positive for rabies in Garland County in 2012.