County Animal Care Offering Low-cost Rabies, Microchipping

MILLERSVILLE, MD — Pet owners are encouraged to take advantage of a low-cost rabies and microchip clinic offered by Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, at the shelter, 411 Maxwell Frye Rd., Millersville.

Rabies vaccinations are $5 per pet during the clinic, cash or check only. Maryland law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets four months of age or older be vaccinated against this deadly disease, which can affect humans as well as animals. The length of the vaccine’s effectiveness depends on the vaccine used and whether the animal has been vaccinated previously. Owners who have proof that their animal was vaccinated before should bring that proof with them.

Microchips are $20 per animal, cash or check only. This does not include an additional $19.95 to register the owner’s personal information with the manufacturer of the chip so that, if the animal is lost and its chip scanned, its owner is contracted first. A brochure is given to owners when their pets are micro-chipped explaining the registration process.

The line for this clinic forms outside, so clinic attendees are asked to come prepared for the weather, to bring necessities for both themselves and their pets, and to maintain a safe distance between pets while waiting. During weather extremes, the clinic may be cancelled. While Animal Care & Control accepts cash as well as checks during this clinic, please bring cash in bills no larger than $20.