CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Montgomery County Commissioners discussed amending the Animal Care & Control regulations regarding the rabies vaccination fee and collection of the fee for animals at their Monday meeting.
The county’s Animal Control Committee has requested the vaccination fee be changed so that the registration fee of $5.00 will be the total fee collected for all vaccinations whether the vaccination is for one year or three years.
During the month of March, which is Rabies Awareness Month, the fee would be reduced to $1.00 whether the vaccination is for one year or three years. The proposal also requires a procedure be established for collecting the fees by veterinarians and then payment made to the county each month.
After the payment is made to the Montgomery County Trustee the county would issue tags to the veterinarians showing the animal has been vaccinated. Some local veterinarians are opposed to not only the fee increase but also believe the county should be the one collecting the rabies registration fee.
Jeanette Farrell, Director of Montgomery County Animal Care & Control says it’s a benefit and a win-win situation as far as the county registration fee goes.
“We’ve been collecting it already for years. It’s just a little bit of an increase and all of that will actually go to support Animal Control,” said Farrell.
Farrell added that it will not go to salaries. It will go to benefit the animals at the shelter and the animals in the community.
The County Commission is expected to vote on the measure at their formal session on Monday, December 11.