Last chance pet vaccinations

HARVARD — There’s one last shot to get your dog or cat immunized against rabies. The Nashoba Associated Boards of Health have one more clinic planned for the spring season and it will be held Saturday April 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Littleton Animal Hospital.

There was a steady stream of patients at the Harvard Highway Department barn on Saturday, March 27. The cats were all safely segregated from the dogs. All left that much more capable of fighting off contracting rabies.

All dogs and cats over 6 months old, not previously immunized and those with a 2007 green bell rabies tag, must be immunized. The vaccine provided at Nashoba clinics is effective for three years for dogs and cats over 1 year of age and currently immunized. Dogs and cats between the ages of 6 and 12 months and those who have let their immunization lapse must receive a booster within one year of the initial inoculation. They are then protected for three years.

Cats, like 17-pounder Penny from Shirley, were brought in cages, which is mandatory. Penny’s owners, Judy and Charley Nutting, said she didn’t like seeing the animal hubbub afoot around her, but she took the shot well. Sam, a golden retriever from Ayer, muzzled noses with Snickers, a golden doodle from Harvard, while waiting in line.

Harvard’s clinic was run by veterinarian Kathryn Trenholm of Ayer Animal Medical Center. Saturday’s Littleton Animal Hospital clinic will be run by veterinarian Alexandra Kilgore.

The tag for 2010 is an orange oval. The charge per immunization is $10. All pet owners must present proof of current vaccination to receive a three-year rabies vaccination. Otherwise, only a one-year vaccination certificate can be issued.