North Beach PAWS will hold an affordable vaccination and microchip clinic Saturday morning at Grays Harbor College for area residents to get their cats and dogs chipped and up to date on vaccines.
Vaccines and microchips will be available for $20 apiece, said North Beach PAWS’ dog shelter manager Nanette Sparrow. Dogs should be on-leash and cats should be in carriers, according to a news release.
Traditionally a rabies clinic has been held each year as a low-cost alternative for Grays Harbor residents. This stopped during COVID and is really needed in the community, Sparrow said. North Beach PAWS will be offering the vaccinations for the lowered price in the hopes of getting the public’s pets taken care of at a cost people can afford.”
The fee for such services through a vet’s office could be more than $100, Sparrow said. Vaccinations can prevent your pet from contracting or spreading a number of diseases, Sparrow said.
“Washington State law requires all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Other diseases such as distemper are prevalent in wildlife and can infect unvaccinated pets,” Sparrow said. “Thanks to vaccinations, parvovirus, and distemper in dogs, and panleukopenia (feline distemper) and leukemia in cats, are entirely preventable.”
Microchips, meanwhile, can help a pet that flees its home be identified and return to its family, Sparrow said. .
“Microchips are the only permanent identification that can reunite you with your beloved lost pet,” Sparrow said. “Unlike collars and ID tags which can break or get lost, a microchip will last for the life of your pet.”
The services will be provided by retired veterinarians Dr. Stacy Steele and Dr. John Stevenson and Raintree Veterinary Center’s Dr. Emily Becker. Hosted at the John M. Smith Aquaculture Center, which the college has donated the use, the shelter is hoping to see 400 dogs and cats, Sparrow said.
“This clinic benefits people who cannot easily afford routine vet care, this is especially true for homes with multiple pets,” Sparrow said. “All of the funds raised above the cost of the vaccines will go toward fulfilling our mission of serving the unwanted and homeless pets in Grays Harbor County.”
The shelter plans to hold another vaccination clinic in Ocean Shores on Sept. 9. Anyone wanting to know more can call 360-660-4660.
Know and Go
What: Pet vaccine and microchip clinic
Where: Grays Harbor College, John M. Smith Aquaculture Center, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive
When: Saturday 10 a.m – 2 p.m. Cost: $20 per vaccination or microchipping
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
