Collinsville Animal Control, Hartz provide low-cost vaccine/microchips clinic on June 28
By Devese “Dee” Ursery • The Collinsville Animal Control and Hartz Second Chance have partnered to provide the opportunity for pet owners to get their pets vaccinated at an affordable cost.
On June 28, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the Warren Billhartz Animal Shelter is offering low-cost shots and Microchip Clinic for pet owners. This offer is available for everyone with a pet, participants do not have to be Collinsville residents to enjoy these savings.
“Pets having necessary vaccinations enhance their health, the nearby communities, and comply with legal requirements,” said Lt. Keith Jackson of the Collinsville Police Department. “Pets having microchips enhances the possibility of successful reunification to their owners in the event they become lost.”
According to Jackson, in the beginning these clinics were held twice a year, but because the demand has risen, they have recently begun to have the clinics quarterly.
“The vaccine/microchip clinics have been hosted by our facility in some fashion for approximately 10 years,” Jackson said. “There have been other variations of the program between different types of providers in the past.”
At the vaccine/microchip clinic, dogs can get a one-year rabies vaccine for $15, a one-year DHPP (Distemper Complex) for $20. It would cost $30 to get both vaccines. For cats, a one-year rabies vaccine would cost $15 and the one-year FVRCP Vaccine for $20 or $30 for both. Microchips are $10 for cats and dogs. All services are cash only.
The partnership with Hartz Second Chance has been occurring for approximately a year. According to Jackson, the event is hosted by Hartz Second Chance and they will provide the low-cost vaccine services utilizing a licensed veterinarian.
The Warren Billhartz Collinsville Animal Shelter provides the low-cost microchip service. The microchip service is implemented by our animal control officers, which are trained to provide this service.
Registration on microchips is separate through AVID or other private registries. Animal control will enter your information into the Collinsville Police Department’s in-house system at the time of implantation.
County tag registration is separate and is done through your local county animal control. The clinic is first-come, first-served while supplies last. This clinic is open to any pet owner regardless of their residential location.
The shot clinics have been very successful. In the previous clinic, H2C provided vaccines to 51 dogs and eight cats while 16 animals received microchips.
“Pet vaccines are crucial to the health of pets and the community alike. The microchip service helps animals to be reunified with their families in the event they are lost. The microchips can be scanned by people such as animal control facilities, animal rescue organizations, some law enforcement agencies and veterinary services,” Jackson said. “The microchips provide contact information for the owner of the pet, allowing someone with the scanning device to access this information to help get the pet to its loving home. The city of Collinsville has a high return to owner rate for pets we receive via intake at the Warren Billhartz Collinsville Animal Shelter due to technologies such as microchipping.”
