MEDIA CONTACT: Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services
(239) 432-2090 Ext. 241
Prepare Pets for Hurricane Season: Lee County Animal Services Offers Low-cost Rabies and ID Clinic
Fort Myers, Florida, 6/30/03 – In Southwest Florida the biggest threats from hurricanes occur during August through October. Lee County Animal Services is encouraging pet owners to prepare now in case of a hurricane or other disaster. While people make plans to secure their homes and families in case of a hurricane, many forget to make sure their pets will be safe and protected until it’s too late. Pet owners are always advised to keep their pets up-to-date on vaccinations. However, during a disaster it is even more important as prevention against the spread of disease.
Animal Services will hold a low-cost rabies and ID clinic for pets on July 19, 2003 from 8:00 am to noon at the shelter, 5600 Banner Dr. in Fort Myers (next to the Sheriff’s Dept. off Six-Mile Cypress Parkway). Pet owners may choose one of the following packages:
Rabies Vaccination and County license(for pets with Microchip IDs)Sterilized pets - $10 Unsterilized pets -$25 |
Rabies Vaccination, County license and Microchip IDSterilized pets- $20 Unsterilized pets - $35 |
Pets must have a Microchip ID, or owners must purchase one, to qualify for the discount package. As always, license fees are based on whether a pet is sterilized. Information on how to prepare pets in case of a hurricane will be distributed to attendees. Other vaccinations are necessary for the prevention of disease. Pet owners should contact their veterinarian for additional vaccinations, such as those for kennel cough, distemper and parvo, which may be required when boarding pets.
Microchip IDs will be available to the general public for only $15 throughout the entire month of July. The Microchip ID is a small computer chip about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted by injection under the animal’s skin between the shoulder blades. All animal control agencies and most humane organizations and veterinarians have scanners that read the microchip’s unique number that identifies the owner. Permanent identification, such as the microchip, is the only way to ensure that pets can be identified and returned to their owners following a disaster or any time an animal’s ID tags are lost.
For more information about this event or how to prepare your pet in case of a hurricane, visit Animal Services’ web site at www.leelostpets.com or call 432-2083.