Prince George’s County, Bowie host free rabies shots, microchips for pets

Bowie pet owners had a free chance to protect their animals, and their wallets, at City Hall as Prince George’s County and the City of Bowie teamed up for a rabies vaccination and microchip clinic on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The city said services were provided by Dr. Alison Mocko, founder and medical director of Bowie Spay & Neuter. County officials urged residents to bring friends, family and neighbors so more households could take advantage of the no-cost service, which tied animal care directly to public health and the practical business of keeping pets identifiable if they wandered off.

The clinic mattered for more than convenience. Prince George’s County says rabies attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis and death once symptoms appear. County guidance says the disease is most likely to show up locally in raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats and unvaccinated dogs and cats. Maryland’s 2024 laboratory-confirmed rabies report listed 21 animal rabies cases in Prince George’s County and 203 across the state, underscoring why vaccination remains a basic safeguard for both pets and people.

The county also reminded owners that dogs, cats and ferrets over four months old, and animals that have been in Prince George’s County for 30 days, must have a county license. A license will not be issued without proof of a current rabies vaccination, making shots like the Bowie clinic offer a requirement as well as a protection. Pets had to be at least three months old for the vaccine, and owners were expected to stay with their animals. Pets also needed to arrive leashed or in a carrier so the clinic could move safely and efficiently.

The Bowie clinic was first come, first served, with only 100 rabies vaccinations available, so the event rewarded early arrival. For households watching every dollar, the timing stood out: Prince George’s County also scheduled a low-cost drive-up pet clinic for April 19 at the Animal Services and Adoptions Center in Upper Marlboro, with rabies vaccination and microchip offered for $20 total per pet for county residents, cash only, proof of residency required, and a limit of two animals per household.

Together, the Bowie and county clinics showed how a basic public-health service can also help residents meet licensing rules, reduce the risk of rabies exposure, and give lost pets a better shot at getting home.