Living in West Virginia offers a variety of ways for your pet to enjoy the summer months outdoors, but due to rising statewide reports of rabies, the safety of letting your “best friend” run freely to cool off in the creek or chase that quick-footed squirrel has come into question.

For more than 30 years, the Raleigh County Assessor’s Office has been helping ensure pets’ health by hosting an Anti-Rabies Clinic, and this year it’s offering extended hours to meet the growing demand.

For your convenience, and in compliance with state law, anti-rabies clinics are planned for the vaccination of all dogs and cats. State law requires that a tax be paid on all dogs six months of age or older.

The clinic will be cash or check only, no credit or debit cards.

County dog and cat tags are $3; rabies shot is $8; distemper parvo virus shots for dogs is $20; and leukemia and distemper shots for cats is $15.

The schedule is:

 Monday, June 13, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Clear Creek Community Center, Clear Creek; 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Clear Fork Worship Center, Artie; 11:30 to noon, Ameagle Post Office, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Clear Fork Clinic, Dorothy/Clear Fork; 3 to 4 p.m., Naoma, lot across from Naoma Post Office; 4:15 to 5 p.m., Rebecca Chapel, Rock Creek; 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Arnett Chapel, behind church, Arnett.

 Tuesday, June 14, 9 to 10 a.m., Harper Free Methodist Church, Harper; 10:30 to noon, Bolt Church of God, Bolt; 1:15 to 3:15 p.m., Trap Hill Fire Department, Fairdale; 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., Lester Fire Department, Lester; 5 to 6:30 p.m., Sophia City Parking lot, Sophia.

 Wednesday, June 15, 9 to 9:30 a.m., Bolen’s Store, Ury; 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Helen Post Office; 11 a.m. to noon, Wanna Stop, Amigo; 1 to 2 p.m., Rhodell Post Office; 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Meadow’s Store, Besoco; 3:30 to 5 p.m., Odd Baptist Church, Odd.

Thursday, June 16, 9 to 10 a.m., Princewick Post Office; 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Coal City Post Office; 1:45 to 3 p.m. Midway VFW, Midway; 3:15 to 5:15 p.m., Bethel Freewill Baptist Church, MacArthur.

 Friday, June 17, 9 to 9:30 a.m., Terry Christian Church, Terry; 9:45 a.m. to noon, Old Piney View Elementary, Piney View; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Linda K. Epling Stadium, Stanaford; 2:45 to 4:30 p.m., Bradley Freewill Baptist Church, Bradley.

 Saturday, June 18, 9 to noon, Raleigh County Animal Shelter, Beckley, also 1 to 5 p.m.

 Monday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., former Richmond School, Abraham; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., White Oak Post Office; 2 to 3:30 p.m., Shady Spring Ballfield, Shady Spring; 4 to 6 p.m., Ghent Elementary, Ghent.

 Tuesday, June 21: 9 to 10:15 a.m., Grandview Shell Station, Grandview; 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., former Beaver School, Beaver; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Raleigh Post Office; 3 to 5:15 p.m., Mabscott Fire Department, Mabscott.

 Wednesday, June 22, 9 to 10 a.m., Dry Hill Community Center, Maxwell Hill; 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Park Middle School, Beckley.



Any person who owns or harbors any dog, cat, or other domesticated animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, which bites any person, shall forthwith confine and quarantine the animal for a period of 14 days for rabies observation. If such animal is not so confined and quarantined, the humane officer, dog warden or sheriff may cause such animal to be placed in custody and care of licensed veterinarian for such purposes at the owner’s expense. The penalty for any violation of this section shall be a fine of $50 or confinement in the county jail for a period of no less than two or no more than three days.