Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia said this week the town will hold a low-cost anti-rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, June 16, from 10 am to noon at the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium at 45 Main Street.

There are no residency requirements for people to have their animals vaccinated.

State law requires all cats and dogs 3 months old and older to be vaccinated against rabies.

Although rabies is rare among humans, it is almost always fatal if left untreated. The virus, which is found in the saliva of infected animals, enters a victim through a skin puncture or open wound. Rabies affects the central nervous system.

 Rabies moved up the East Coast in 1991 and has been detected in every town in Connecticut. Since 1991, more than 6,000 animals have tested positive for rabies in Connecticut.

Members of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association donate their time to anti-rabies clinics as a public service to help protect the health of Connecticut’s residents and their pets.

The cost for a vaccination is $20 per animal, cash only.

Due to the increasing incidence of rabies, written proof of a prior vaccination for rabies or a current dog license must be presented to qualify for a three-year rabies vaccination certificate. Dog license tags are not acceptable as proof of vaccination.

State law requires that all pets which were vaccinated for the first time in 2011 must be vaccinated again in 2012. People should check their pets’ rabies vaccination certificates for the expiration date.

Collar tags and certificates of vaccination will be provided at the clinic. All dogs at the clinic must be on leashes and all cats must be kept in carriers. People attending the clinic may purchase new 2012 dog licenses there. People who plan to purchase dog licenses should bring spay/neuter certificates for their dogs, which will allow them to buy the licenses at lower fees.

For more information, contact the town clerk at 203-270-4210.