By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

Saturday will be the last in a series of four Rabies Clinics in Dallas County.

“They’ve been a little better than the previous year,” John Michael Wells said, speaking of the turn out for these clinics. Wells is a doctor of veterinary medicine at Northside Animal Hospital, which has been working in conjunction with the Dallas County Health Department to offer the clinic.

Wells said although pet owners can get their pets’ rabies shots at any vet clinic any time, taking a pet to a Saturday rabies clinic may be much more convenient. One of the six locations may be more accessible than taking a pet to Northside or another animal hospital.

“It’s a lot easier to drive a cat one mile than 20 miles,” Wells said.

Wells said the rabies shot is good for one year, and yearly updates are required by Alabama law.

“They do have a three-year rabies shot that lasts the dog for three years, but it’s not legal for us to give that shot at the rabies clinic,” Wells said.

The rabies vaccine will protect pets from contracting rabies if they come in contact with a rabid animal.

“We obviously see animals with rabies every year in Dallas County,” Wells said, “so it is important that everyone gets their animal inoculated.”

Wells said there could be multiple reasons why people fail to get their pets’ rabies shots.

“They don’t realize the important of it, or, I’m sure with the economy, it is just coming up with the extra $10,” Wells said.

But Saturday’s clinic is $2 cheaper than getting the inoculation at Northside, which may be an added bonus.

Wells said if anyone has a large number of dogs and misses the clinic, Northside can arrange to make a house call.