City holding pet vaccinations for rabies

In conjunction with local veterinarians and the Brownsville Independent School District, the city of Brownsville will be sponsoring rabies clinics throughout the city this year.

By law, dogs and cats must be vaccinated yearly against rabies and officials expect more than 75 pets to show up at each clinic.

“It’s really important that people get their pets vaccinated,” said Jaime Medina, assistant supervisor at the Brownsville Animal Control.

“We haven’t had a case of rabies, and we want to keep it that way.”

The clinics will be in the Southmost area on the following dates:

—May 3 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m at Aiken Elementary;

—May 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Garza Elementary;

—May 15 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Victoria Heights Elementary.

The cost for the vaccination is $10 and all pets must be controlled by a leash or in a carrier.

“Rabies is most usual in the summer because it’s hot and pets usually tend to hide under the bushes,” said Medina.

“We keep expanding in neighborhoods, so the animals come out and expose themselves.”

Symptoms of rabies include signs of aggressiveness and foaming at the mouth.

“Rabies is most common in animals like raccoons, coyotes, skunks and bats,” said Medina.

“I recommend the people to take their pets to the schools were the clinics will be held.”