Free rabies vaccination clinic scheduled for April 7

Pitt County Animal Services (PCAS) in partnership with the City of Greenville APS and SPAY Today will offer a free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 7 at the Winterville Community Rural Volunteer Fire Department, 2564 Mill St., Winterville.

The clinic will have free rabies vaccinations for 500 pets, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers. Transport cats in separate carriers to expedite rabies shots administration.

No retractable leashes. Dogs must be in regular collars or harnesses. No chains are allowed to be used as collars. All rabies vaccines given will be valid for one year.

Photo ID with current address is required. If the address on the ID is not current, bring a utility bill that verifies the owner’s current address. Owners without photo ID will be turned away.

All dogs and cats must be at least four months of age to receive the rabies vaccination. Animals under four months will be turned away. If available, bring papers that verify the pet’s date of birth.

Pets will not receive a rabies vaccination if it is requested more than 30 days before the previous shot’s expiration date. Rabies vaccinations requested within the final 30 days or after expiration will be given.

If you bring an animal to the clinic for a family member, friend, or neighbor, you must have their photo ID (or copy of their photo ID) with their current address and written permission for their animals to be vaccinated against rabies.

Upon arrival, check in at the tent with tables in the parking lot at the rear of the fire station. Volunteers will be on site to assist. Staff will be unable to look up previous rabies vaccination records.

North Carolina law states that “the owner of every dog and cat over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies.”

In Pitt County, owners of dog and cats that have not been vaccinated in accordance with this law are subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $100.