The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department encourages all pet owners to get their animals vaccinated against rabies. This year’s low-cost rabies clinics will be available at almost 60 locations around Hamilton County from April 20-28. The price is $12 per pet. Rabies vaccinations are required by law for all dogs and cats.
“Vaccinating our pets is the most important buffer between humans and the wild animal population where the rabies virus mostly lives,” said Health Department Director of Environmental Health Services Bonnie Deakins, “The rabies vaccine is not just protecting your pet, it’s protecting public health.”
"Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the nervous system. The usual mode of rabies transmission is by the introduction of saliva containing the rabies virus into a bite wound. Any mammal, especially raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs and cats, can get and transmit rabies. Once the infected person or animal shows symptoms the disease is 100 percent fatal.
"Of local concern was the rabies-positive raccoon recovered in an East Ridge neighborhood in December 2017. This case illustrates not only how close rabies is, but also how important it is to keep your pet’s vaccination up to date," officials said. "Last year across the state, 36 animals tested positive for the virus, mostly skunks and bats.
"In 2017, the Health Department investigated 706 cases of animals biting humans in Hamilton County. Thanks to public health measures like these low cost clinics, none of these cases were positive for rabies.
"Last year, these clinics delivered 2,474 vaccines. Keeping your pets vaccinated against rabies not only protects their health but also your health- and it’s the law."
This year’s rabies clinics are scheduled for the following dates. All clinics are from 4-6 p.m.:
• Friday, April 20
• Saturday, April 21
• Wednesday, April 25
• Thursday, April 26 (Special Cat Only Clinics)
• Friday, April 27
• Saturday, April 28
For more information about clinic locations, visit the Health Department’s website for the detailed scheduled or call the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department’s Environmental Health Services at 423-209-8110.
To report stray, injured, abused, or neglected animals, contact the animal services in your jurisdiction. The Health Department does not provide animal removal services. All animal exposures (bites, scratches, open wounds) are required to be reported as soon as possible to the Health Department at 423-209-8110.
Partners this year include the Hamilton County Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Educational Society, McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center and the East Ridge Animal Control.