Cook County holding rabies, microchip clinics

Cook County is holding more than 30 low-cost rabies vaccine clinics and four low-cost microchip clinics this summer.

A full schedule of where and when the rabies clinics will take place is posted on the department's website, cookcountyil.gov/agency/animal-and-rabies-control-0.

The cost of a one-year rabies shot at the rabies clinics is $7 for dogs and cats and a three-year rabies shot is $21. Ferret vaccines, which last one-year, are $9. Only rabies vaccinations will be available at the low-cost rabies vaccination clinics

Dr. Donna Alexander, administrator of the county's Animal and Rabies Control Department, emphasized the importance of ensuring that dogs, cats and ferrets are up to date on their rabies immunization.

"The clinic addresses a serious public health issue," she said. "If your dog, cat or ferret is bitten by a rabid animal, this shot will prevent them from getting rabies and passing it on to other animals or to humans."

The cost of the microchip implantation is $10 per animal. The registration of the chip in a national database is $19.95 per animal. Only microchips will be provided at the low-cost microchip clinics.

"Microchipping your pet can help in the event that the animal goes missing," Dr. Alexander said. "If the animal is found by police, animal control or a good Samaritan, a scan of the microchip can help you be reunited with your pet."

Only cash or checks are accepted for the rabies vaccine and for the microchip implantation; no credit or debit cards.

The rates represent a substantial discount in what is normally charged for these services.

The only microchip clinic in the Northwest suburbs will be Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Highway Building Garage 34, 1 Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates.

Rabies clinics in the Northwest suburbs include Tuesday, June 13, at the Jewel store, 45 S. Plum Grove Road, Palatine; Wednesday, June 14, at Jack A. Claes Pavilion, 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village; Wednesday, July 19, at Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., northeast section of parking lot, Des Plaines; Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Jewel-Osco, 10203 Grand Ave., Franklin Park; Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Jewel-Osco, 1340 Patriot Blvd., Glenview; Tuesday, Sept. 26, Jewel-Osco, 1485 Palatine Road, Hoffman Estates; and Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Highway Building Garage, 341 Illinois Blvd., Hoffman Estates.