Microchip and rabies clinic Saturday at Pinal Animal Care and Control

Help protect your companion animals by getting them micro chipped and vaccinated against rabies on March 20 from 8 a.m. to noon.  Rabies vaccines are only $9.  Micro chipping is just $30.
 
“Micro chipping is a nearly painless way to ensure that your pet can be reunited with you if he or she gets away,” said Ruth Stalter, Director of Pinal County Animal Care and Control. “Our Animal Control officers scan any of the pets we bring in as our first attempt to reunite animals with their owners. Many pet stores will scan animals, too. If you find a stray animal, you can call around to find a vet or pet store to see if they can scan it. If it’s been chipped, the owner’s name and contact information will come up.”
 
Stalter says there have been many happy reunions with pets and their families, thanks to micro chipping. Because the microchips are so tiny, no stitches are needed. It’s very similar to any other kind of injection. 
 
Rabies vaccines and other regular pet vaccines will be available as well.
 
“We are really emphasizing the need for the rabies vaccine,” Stalter said. “Arizona is on pace to have another record year for rabies in the wild animal population. You can’t be too careful since rabies is always fatal.”
 
Since the first of the year, there have been four wild animals that have tested positive for rabies near the Oracle area. In Coolidge, one bat was found to be rabid. Rabies is a fatal infection that affects the nervous system of infected animals. If a companion animal like a cat or dog has possible contact with a rabid animal and there is no proof of vaccination, the animal must be quarantined at the owner’s expense or humanely euthanized.

Micro chipping and rabies vaccinations will be done at Pinal County Animal Care and Control, located at 764 South Eleven Mile Corner Road. This is just a few miles east of I-10 and the Promenade shopping center. Follow the signs from I-10 to the Pinal County Fairgrounds.  Animal Care & Control is just south of the Fairgrounds. 

On the Animal Care and Control website, you can find photos of the adoptable dog and cat of the week.

File photo