Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

On Saturday, April 25, 2009, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the DC Department of Health (DOH), and the Washington Humane Society will host two free pet vaccination clinics and a pet adoption fair at two DPR dog parks.  Both clinics will provide free vaccinations for rabies and DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvo virus viruses). 

The first pet vaccination clinic will take place at the dog park at Walter Pierce Park, located at the intersection of Calvert and 20th Streets, NW, from 9 am - 12 noon.  A second vaccination clinic will take place from 1 pm until 4 pm at Shaw Dog Park, 11th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW.

The Washington Humane Society will be joining DPR and DOH at the Shaw Dog Park from 1 pm to 4 pm to host a pet adoption fair for the public. There are no application fees, but there is an adoption fee of $135, which covers all necessary vaccinations and spaying or neutering.

Only cats and dogs over three months old will be vaccinated for rabies at the clinic. District law requires that all owners license their dogs and fit them with a license tag on their collars. All pets must be brought to the clinic by a responsible adult. Dogs must be secured on a leash and cats must be secured in a carrier box.

Dog licenses will be available for $15 for a spayed or neutered dog and $50 for a dog which has not been spayed or neutered. No cash will be accepted; rather, all checks and money orders should be made payable to “DC Treasurer”.  Use of DPR dog parks are free, but each dog must have a valid DC dog license, and have a DC dog park registration tag.  Applications for the DC dog park registration tag are available in the "Dog Parks" section on DPR's website, DPR.DC.GOV.  DPR and DOH will be on site at the clinic with dog park registration tag applications.

For information about the vaccination clinics, contact Peggy Keller, DOH, at (202) 535-2188; for information about the pet adoption fair, contact Kelly Manion, Washington Humane Society, at (202) 576-6839.