Protect your pet by taking part in Rabies Vaccination Clinics

Residents of Dunklin County will have the opportunity to protect their dogs and their families on Saturday by taking part in Dunklin County Rabies Vaccination Clinics. Photo illustration

Animal lovers around Dunklin County will soon have a chance to protect their dogs and their families by taking part in Rabies Vaccination Clinics in their town.

On Saturday, March 26, Rabies Vaccination Clinics will be held at towns throughout Dunklin County, including Malden, Clarkton, Holcomb, Senath, Cardwell, Arbyrd, and Hornersville. Vaccinations will be $8 per dog.

"The big deal [with rabies] is it is a public health concern," said Dr. William Embry, II, DVM. "Rabies is, a lot of times, a death sentence for your puppy dogs. Plus [rabies] is something that is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transferred from humans to dogs to different animal species."

Embry added that rabies can be fatal to humans as well.

"We don't see a whole lot of rabies cases from dog to human anymore because we do the vaccinations," Embry added. "It's a bad disease and there is not a lot of cure for it once they get the virus."

If a resident thinks their dog may have rabies, Embry said owners should be aware of either extreme lethargy or ferocity.

Rabies is transmitted through an infected dogs saliva entering the bite wound of the animal it attacks.

In humans, the virus can sometimes be cured through a series of shots.

"It used to be eight shots, I think it is four shots now," Embry said, adding that the shots are painful and expensive.

According to the Dunklin County Health Department (DCHD), since it has been a year since the last set of clinics, it is very important that control measures be taken again and effectiveness of the program over the past years cannot be over-emphasized.

The most inexpensive way to guard your community, your family, and your dog against a rabies epidemic is to have your dog vaccinated annually by a licensed veterinarian, according to the DCHD.

As part of the Rabies Vaccination Clinics, dogs can also receive vaccinations for other diseases for an additional charge.

RABIES VACCINATION CLINIC

LOCATIONS AND TIMES

* Malden, Mo. - Malden Veterinary Clinic -

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.;

* Clarkton, Mo. - City Hall -

12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.;

* Holcomb, Mo. - City Hall -

2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.;

* Senath, Mo. - Fire Station -

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.;

* Cardwell, Mo. - City Hall -

1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.;

* Arbyrd, Mo. - City Hall -

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.;

* Hornersville, Mo. - City Hall -

4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

A clinic will also be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.,

on Saturday, April 11, at the city park in Campbell, Mo.