Pet adoptions, vaccinations are offered

Spring brings Columbia County Animal Care and Control's Special Pet Adoption and two new services to the county's pet owners.

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The quarterly adoption promotion runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, located at 6337 Columbia Road in Appling.

Adoption prices will be reduced for the two-day event -- $10 for dogs and puppies and $5 for cats and kittens. Visitors to the shelter must wear closed-toe shoes, and all adopted animals must be spayed or neutered.

If a recently ordered engraving machine arrives in time, customized pet IDs will be offered at the adoption, said Pam Tucker, the Columbia County Emergency Services director. The Columbia County Commission recently approved charging $2 per tag, enough to cover the cost, Tucker said.

"At any time once it comes in, all somebody has got to do is go up to animal control and they can get one for $2," Tucker said, adding that 550 animals were returned to their owners in 2007 using a microchip or pet ID tag. "It is the easiest way, to have a tag on or a microchip."

The $10-per-day cost to board an animal is passed along to pet owners who pick up their animals, which can be returned nearly immediately with proper identification.

"It is a cost-saving measure for both (animal control and pet owners) to get ID tags," Tucker said.

County officials also scheduled the first low-cost rabies clinic to be held quarterly for Columbia County residents.

"It is a big deal in this county especially," Tucker said.

Rabies is the only state-required pet vaccination, she said. "It is so horrible what a person has to go through if they don't get their animals vaccinated. So this is a wonderful preventative measure."

Unvaccinated pets who have had contact with a rabid animal must be euthanized or quarantined for six months.

The clinic will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. May 3 at Patriots Park.

Vaccinations, administered by a volunteer veterinarian, cost $2 each and 250 are available for cats and dogs.

"You won't find it less than that anywhere," Tucker said.

For more information, visit columbiacountyga.gov.