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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Adopting a pet is an exciting time for animal lovers. However, along with cuddling on the couch, teaching tricks, and finding the perfect squeaky toy, adopting an animal also means looking after our furry friends’ health. For cats, dogs, and ferrets, this means staying up to date on rabies vaccines to protect them from the potentially fatal virus.
Once a year, Westwood hosts a rabies clinic to provide pet owners with low-cost rabies vaccinations from the Veterinary Services of Westwood for their beloved pets.
“The Rotary has done this in conjunction with the town and the vet for many, many years,” said Rotary Club member Paul Folsom, guessing the clinic has been held annually for almost 20 years. “It started because one of the members of the Rotary was the vet, so we started doing this to get animals vaccinated.”
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., local pet owners brought their animals to the Westwood Public Works Department to update their animals on their rabies shots. Since no wellness visit is required, the pet owners just pay for the price of the vaccine – a simple 15 dollars.
“It’s just been something we do every year,” said Dottie Powers, Westwood’s Town Clerk. “It’s something we offer the community and the surrounding towns, as well. It’s convenient and the cost is really great for people, too.”
The Rotary Club also helps sign the licenses for pet owners who need to renew their dog license, which Dottie looks after at the clinic. In turn, the proceeds from the clinic are donated to the Rotary.
“Our animals can’t tell us when they’ve been bitten by a bat or another animal while they’re out running in the yard,” said Westwood’s animal control officer, Paul Jolicouer, stressing the importance of rabies vaccinations.
“It’s a big public health concern, so that’s the major reason we have this: to make sure people are vaccinating their cats and dogs,” Dottie added.
The clinic also offered information to pet owners, including tips on proper waste disposal to keep water clean and free of parasites.
With more than thirty cats and dogs visiting the clinic for their shots, the town could feel assured that Westwood’s pet owners were keeping both their pets and the community safe from a devastating, yet preventable disease.
