Good Dog!

Saturday morning the town Green was teaming with dogs and cats waiting to receive a variety of services at reduced cost thanks to the and Branford Veterinary Hospital.

The first 50 pets at the pop-up clinic received free rabies vaccinations and it was nearly the magic number as 62 pets showed up for this important shot, said shelter Animal Control Officer Pam Medlyn (shots for those who didn’t make the free cut were $5­).

Branford resident John Cummings, who held Buddy for his $20 microchip, said he was thrilled with the day's offerings. “The fact that it is convenient and one-stop shopping… and I think Buddy liked it too.”

Throughout the morning, patrons of the event noted convenience and cost saving as the two main reasons they showed up for the clinic.

While microchipping was a big draw for dog owners as it ensures safety if a dog goes missing (10 were administered), the two necessary offerings were the rabies vaccination and the dog licensing.

Dr. Scott Gavaletz of Branford Veterinarian Hospital said the rabies vaccination, which is administered every three years after the first vaccination, is the most crucial as rabies is communicable to humans. Free for some and just $5 for the latecomers, the vaccinations were the highlight of the day.

is also a very important thing for Branford dog owners and last year’s tags expire at the end of June. If you missed the event this past weekend, you can still obtain tags any time from the or at the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Dogs must be rabies vaccinated to receive a tag; dogs found without tags are subject to a $75 fine. For more information about licensing click .

The next pop-up clinic will not be until next year but it’s no excuse to get your animals checked out! Head down to your vet and be sure to keep the community and your pets safe!