The beagles howled and the cats meowed as the vets and volunteers put them through their paces at the 27th annual Henniker Rotary Club Rabies Clinic on April 16. One hundred thirty dogs and cats received vaccinations to protect them from the deadly rabies virus.
Vaccinations were administered by Drs. Alyssa and Bob Brust and the staff of the Henniker Veterinary Hospital. Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to Wings of the Dawn and will be used to rebuild a Rabies Vector Species cage. Thirty-eight percent of the animals vaccinated this year were owned by Henniker residents, with another 18 percent belonging to Weare residents and the remaining 44 percent from 12 nearby communities.
The annual rabies clinic really enjoys support not only from membership but community volunteers, the Henniker Fire Department and the town clerk’s office, which is on hand to license dogs for the coming year. The business community is especially committed to the event. We are very grateful for the support of Ameriprise Financial, A Precious Pet Resort, Ayer & Goss, Granite Quill Publications, Henniker Farm and Country Store, Jean Hooker & Associates Real Estate, The Mutt Hut and TD Bank, all of whom help underwrite and promote the event and Diamond Pet Foods which supplies free pet food samples to every dog and cat attending.
The rabies clinic is an activity that every member gets involved in and it continues to be among the most popular service activities in which the club is engaged. It takes 30 club members and community volunteers to pull this off each year and to insure the safety and well-being of all the animals. We are so very thankful to everyone who turns out to support this important community service.
Ruth B. Zax, President
Henniker Rotary Club