City to offer free rabies shots, low-cost dog licenses Saturday

“Just over a third of city residents who own dogs have them licensed,” said Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik.

The Saturday, Sept. 12, event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kozachik’s ward office, 3202 E. First Street, near East Speedway and North Country Club Road.

The event includes licensing of already spayed or neutered pups for $16; senior citizen discounted licenses for spayed and neutered dogs for $11 or $18 licenses for unaltered dogs; free rabies vaccination from 10 a.m. to noon for dogs in good health 3 months old or older; and microchipping for $10.

The event also includes information on low-cost spaying and neutering for animals.

Pima Animal Care Center receives more than 25,000 animals each year. Many of those have not been altered, adding to the problem of stray and unwanted animals.

“All the shelters are overflowing,” Kozachik said. “The answer is spay and neuter.”

PACC officials said such programs have helped address the problem. PACC’s Kim Janes said the county typically alters more than 10,000 animals each year. In the past, as few as 3,000 spayings and neuterings were done annually.

Kozachik said he has sought to have the city fund spay and neuter services in past city budget debates but was not successful.

“We can’t keep ignoring the long-term value of spay and neuter,” he said.

Tucson will pay an estimated $4 million in the current budget year for PACC services.

Kozachik said increasing the rate of spaying and neutering can help alleviate some of those expenses. Increasing the number of licensed animals also will help defray city costs, because the money animal owners spend on licenses would go toward paying for animal care services through PACC.

For information on Saturday’s event call 791-4601.