A local animal hospital is giving pet owners an alternative option to visiting the vet to get rabies vaccinations for their furry friends. 

Starting May 3, Northside Animal Hospital will be traveling to various Alabama Counties, including Dallas County, administering rabies vaccinations for an inoculation fee of $10. The hospital is hoping to reduce the threat of rabies, a preventable, fatal viral disease of mammals.

“It’s way for people to able to get their animals vaccinated and not have to bring them all the way to the clinic, because some of them are easier to take a block than they are to take around town or half way across the county,” Northside Animal Hospital veterinarian Mike Wells said. “It allows us to vaccinate more of the population.”

Veterinarians will be administering vaccinations in Plantersville and north Selma from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tyler, Sardis and Minter from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Burnsville, Selma City and Selmont from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Marion Junction, Orrville and west Selma from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

According to the Northside Animal Hospital, the state law requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated each year. The hospital also said several rabies cases have been reported in the Dallas Country area in recent years.

Since vaccinations average about $12 at the vet, it would be more affordable and convenient to have a pet vaccinated during one of hospital’s scheduled stops, Wells said.

“It’s an 100 percent effective vaccine,” Wells said. “I’ve never heard of an animal getting rabies that has been vaccinated.”

Wells said animals could carry rabies without showing symptoms of having the disease, so rabies can often spread without notice.

“I’d like to thank all of people who let us have the clinics at their store, house, church or whatever, because they are doing the community a favor and they are doing us a favor, too.” Wells said.

Selma resident Carolyn Edwards, the owner of a mixed red-nose pit bull, said Northside Animal Hospital’s willingness would help those who, for whatever reason, are not able to make it to the vet to properly treat their pets.

“I think it’s a good idea, because a lot of people can’t get out and get their dogs vaccinated and get to the place,” Edwards said.

For more information and a detailed schedule, call Northside Animal Hospital at 872-2355.