It’s 10:00 on a Saturday morning, and a line has already formed outside the Chesapeake Health Department.
Dozens of pet owners stand with carriers and leashes in hand, waiting for their turn at the city’s annual fall rabies vaccination clinic.
For just $10 per pet, residents can get their dogs and cats vaccinated — no appointment or medical exam required. The department prepared 150 doses on a first-come, first-served basis, and by half past ten, half of the doses were already gone.
“We usually schedule the clinics for about two hours, but we’re typically sold out within the first hour or so,” said Derek Hunt, the environmental health manager at the Chesapeake Health Department.
Hunt said the department has been offering the rabies vaccine for about ten years, typically twice a year — once in the spring and again in the fall. The department took a brief pause during the pandemic.
“The purpose is just rabies education, trying to make sure that we minimize the risk of infectious disease in animals,” Hunt said.
Rabies remains rare but deadly. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the state recorded 272 confirmed rabies cases in animals in its third quarter last year, mostly in raccoons, bats and foxes.
Chesapeake’s numbers have stayed relatively consistent, though health officials say early spring often brings small spikes as wild animals become more active.
Nancy Welch, health director at the Chesapeake Health Department, said vaccination is one of the most effective ways to keep both animals and people safe.
“We can’t predict when or where an exposure might occur,” Welch said. “Keeping your pets vaccinated is the simplest step you can take to prevent the virus from spreading.”
Among those waiting in line was Trick Oliver, who brought his three-year-old dog, Lydia, for her shot. He said he first vaccinated her after rescuing her from the street but wanted to make sure her protection stayed up to date.
“Honestly, I love it, like, it's quick, it's efficient, it's affordable, and everyone here is really friendly,” Oliver said.
Oliver lives just a few miles away in Chesapeake, and said this was his first time attending the clinic. He plans to return for future events in April and October and hopes more pet owners learn about the service.
Owners who brought their pets to the clinic received an official rabies certificate after the shot.
