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Cook County Announces Pilot Program to Provide Free Rabies Vaccines and Microchips to Pets of County Veterans and Service Members

The one-day Vets and Pets clinic is scheduled for Saturday, July 1st. Limited to first 200 pet owners. Located in the city of Chicago

The Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs and the County’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control (ARC) have partnered with Chicago Animal Care and Control to launch Vets and Pets, a free one-day rabies vaccine and microchip clinic for pets belonging to County veterans and service members.

This is the first clinic of its kind and is scheduled for Saturday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at General Jones Armory located at 5200 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL 60615.

“I’d like to thank Cook County and all of our partners for launching this new program for our well deserving County veterans and service members,” said Commissioner Aguilar.

“It is with great appreciation that Cook County is able to provide this free clinic to allow our pets to be supported. By providing such services, this shows our County veterans and service members how grateful we are for everything they’ve done.”

The Vets and Pets clinic is available to the first 200 cats and dogs and is first come, first served. Veterans and service members can bring up to four pets per household. Please bring proof of military status. Accepted documents include DD214 paired with picture ID, veteran ID or common access card. Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in carriers.

“Cook County is proud to provide essential services for pets belonging to our brave veterans and service members,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “I am grateful to the County’s Department of Veterans Affairs, Animal and Rabies Control and Chicago Animal Care and Control for the good work they do to ensure County pets remain healthy and safe.”

ARC reminds residents that rabies is always fatal to unvaccinated pets and is a preventable virus that causes inflammation of the brain in mammals. Rabies vaccines are required by law.

For more information about Vets and Pets, visit: cookcountyil.gov/vetsandpets

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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