Published: July 15, 2008 10:57 am         

City staff prepares for ‘Dog Days of Summer’

By David Wilfong

Herald-Banner Staff



As the summer month roll on, the animal control staff is planning the second annual Dog Days of Summer along with Country Friends Vet Clinic for Saturday at City Hall.

The event is designed to offer a convenient opportunity and reminder for local residents to get their pets the necessary and required healthcare in the form of vaccinations. All pets residing in the city limits are also required to be registered.

The $10 rabies vaccination clinic will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Hall on N. Arch St. All dogs must be on leashes and cats must be brought in in carriers.

Danny Mims, animal control officer for Royse City, keeps tabs on the Internet sites that monitor incidents of rabies in the three counties Royse City sits in and always stresses the need for the rabies vaccination in particular in this area.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, both Rockwall and Hunt County had two confirmed cases of rabid skunks. Collin County tipped the scales with 13 rabid skunks, three bats, and one infected cow.

Mims has stated that a source of frustration in his department is that the compliance with city registration is markedly low and that residents are often not prepared for the eventuality of their animals, especially house pets, to get out.

In addition to the available healthcare, there will be an outdoor festival of sorts with local vendors and pet adoption.

This year the event is also going to feature Tim Marshal of Brushy Creek Retrievers.

This training school specializes in training retrievers for hunting as well as obedience classes for domestic pets.

“Basically, if he tells one of his dogs to stand on its head it will do it until he comes back and tells it to stop,” Mims joked of the trainers reputation in the field.

Other pet-based businesses will also be showcasing their services at the annual four-hour event.