Free Rabies Clinic Offered In West River

WEST RIVER, MD -- Owensville Primary Care Community Health Center, in cooperation with the Anne Arundel County Department of Health and Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control, will offer a free rabies clinic to the residents of the South County for their pets on Sunday, May 19, from 12-3 p.m. The clinic will be held in the parking lot of the Owensville Primary Care at 134 Owensville Road (Rt. 255), West River, MD.

The clinic will be staffed by volunteers from the Health Center, Animal Care & Control employees and a volunteer veterinarian and staff from the Muddy Creek Animal Hospital. A statement released by the Anne Arundel County Police Department noted that dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier.

Maryland Law (Annotated Code of Maryland Health-General Article Title 18 Subtitle 3 Part III rabies §18-318 Vaccinations – Dogs, cats and ferrets) requires all cats, dogs and ferrets ages four months of age or older be vaccinated against rabies. Anne Arundel County has recently had numerous rabid raccoons in the South County area.

“Anne Arundel County urges pet owners to ensure their pets are properly vaccinated. This helps keep both humans and animals safe. Rabies is a preventable disease; however, if contracted, rabies can be fatal,” the statement said.