SUMMERDALE, Ala. — Pet owners in Baldwin County are invited to bring their dogs and cats to the Baldwin County Animal Control Center located at 15050 County Road 49 in Summerdale on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon for a rabies clinic.

Rabies is a disease of all mammals, including man, and is always considered to be fatal unless preventative treatment is given following the bite. The primary means of exposure is through a bite or scratch with contaminated saliva from the animal.

Transmission of the deadly virus also can occur if saliva contacts mucous membranes of the eye or mouth. Vaccination of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets not only protects the animals against rabies, but also creates an additional protective buffer between wildlife rabies and humans. State law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets remain currently vaccinated against rabies.

The 1-year rabies vaccine will be administered by Dr. Babette Dixon of Bay Animal Clinic for $10 per vaccination.

For more information, call the Animal Control Center at 251-972-6834.