On September 28, 2024, a rabies vaccination event will be held in St. Lucie. This event is designed to give residents the opportunity to vaccinate their pets against this potentially deadly disease.
In recognition of World Rabies Day, the St. Lucie County Animal Safety Division will host its third annual drive-thru rabies vaccination event at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 28, from 8 to 11 a.m.
This event is free for residents of unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County and costs $10 for residents of the city of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.
Pre-registration is required so staff can ensure all owners and animals are in the county system at the time of vaccination to keep the lines moving.
Pre-registration opens on Sunday, September 1, and closes on Thursday, September 26, at 4 p.m.
As part of this outreach event, microchips will also be available at no cost to pet owners for residents of unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County and for $10 for residents of the city of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, if they do not already have one.
Residents will need to register their pets with the appropriate animal control agency once the event has concluded. Dogs must be leashed, and cats must be in a secure carrier.
To request an appointment, participants must provide their name, address, phone number, number of animals, and type of animals (cat or dog) via email to:
acvoucher@stlucieco.org.
Also include a photo ID and proof of residency.
Rabies vaccines and microchips are limited to five per household.
The St. Lucie County Fairgrounds is located at 15601 Midway Road in Fort Pierce.
According to the World Health Organization, rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease found in more than 150 countries and territories.
Dogs are the main cause of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans, and 40% of people bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies are children under 15 years old.
Globally, rabies causes an estimated $8.6 billion in costs annually.
Image: PAHO
