As part of an initiative to help provide a safe and healthy community, Gwinnett Animal Welfare is providing free rabies vaccinations at the Atlanta Pet Expo on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We want to provide an opportunity for all pets to receive their annual rabies vaccination,” said, Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Manager Alan Davis. “Rabies is almost always fatal if untreated; prevention is the best way to stop its spread and keep our pets safe.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a deadly infection that affects the central nervous system and can be transmitted from animals to humans. Principal carriers of rabies are some insect-eating bats and wild carnivores, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes. Rabies kills 59,000 people worldwide each year.
The Atlanta Pet Expo will be held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Activities include exhibitors, pet adoptions, free nail trimming, obedience demonstrations, a dog agility course and a costume contest. Other low-cost vaccinations and microchipping will be provided by the Animal Alliance of Georgia during the same event.
The Gwinnett Animal Shelter is open for adoptions Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gwinnett Animal Welfare is located at 884 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville. You can find updated information about available pets, adoption specials and activities at www.GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com.
