To help dogs and cats stay healthy and assist residents with keeping pets safe at a reasonable cost, the City of Carrollton is offering rabies vaccinations for only $5 plus free pet registrations on Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Carrollton Animal Services & Adoption Center (2247 Sandy Lake Road).

Animal Services invites Carrollton residents to bring the family, especially four-legged furry family members, to this event that will include free hot dogs, pretzels, drinks, a bounce house, and wildlife information. In addition to the free fun, free registration, and low-cost vaccinations, attendees who bring a $10 donation to the Center will receive a stainless-steel tumbler.

There will be two veterinary technicians from the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) administering vaccinations to minimize the wait time in the vaccination area. TCAP requests owners bring only one pet per person. If an attendee owns two animals, it is recommended to bring a second person. Dogs must be on a tight leash and cats must be in a carrier.

Carrollton pet owners must register their animals with the City each year. This event is a convenient way to obtain a current City registration tag, since Carrollton Animal Services requires proof of rabies vaccination when registering animals. A current City tag clearly shows the public that a pet has been vaccinated against rabies and can assist if a dog or cat gets lost.

"We always look forward to seeing families with their pets while utilizing this resource to protect them from harm," Carrollton Animal Services Manager Travis Caperton said. "Vaccination and registration are important ways of keeping dogs and cats healthy and safe. If the pet somehow ends up with Animal Services, we can much more easily reunite them with the owner if they're registered."

TCAP will also offer other low-cost vaccinations, including for Distemper/Parvovirus, Bordetella, Lepto, and Lyme for dogs as well as FeLV, FHCPCh, and FeLV/FIV tests for cats. For a full listing of vaccinations available, visit texasforthem.org/services/vaccinations.

Attendees who want to support the Carrollton Adoption Center can also bring material donations such as pet food, kitty litter, or cleaning supplies. For more information, including a list of needed donations, call Animal Services at 972-466-3420 or visit cityofcarrollton.com/animalservices.