Polk County Animal Control, SPCA Florida, and Greater Good Charities are partnering to host a free clinic in Lakeland, offering rabies vaccines and microchips to the first 500 dogs and cats. The effort follows an incident last month where a rabid stray cat attacked five people and a puppy in north Lakeland.
Protecting Pets from Rabies
Getting a pet microchipped normally costs between $25 and $75, while a rabies vaccine ranges from $45 to over $100. Organizers say this free event provides major financial relief, saving owners up to $200 per pet. With hurricane season active, organizers urge owners to microchip their pets in case animals get lost after a storm.
Health authorities stress that residents must avoid contact with stray or wild animals and should never feed them. “Oftentimes, people get exposed because they try to protect their animals from a rabid raccoon or a fight, so the simple message is: do not come into contact with animals you don’t know,” said Gayle Guidash, the administrator for the Citrus County Health Department.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
