Rabies Vaccinations

rabies clinic dog getting vaccinated

Community Outreach Drive-Thru Rabies Vaccine Clinics

Ensuring Your Pet’s Safety: Vaccination is Key!

At Animal Care & Control, we prioritize the well-being of your pets because we understand they are important members of your family. One crucial aspect of pet care, required by North Carolina law, is a valid rabies vaccine for all cats, dogs, and ferrets over four months of age.

Rabies is a serious and often fatal viral disease that affects both animals and humans. By vaccinating your pets, you protect them from this deadly disease and also safeguard your family from possible exposure. This is especially important if your pet goes outdoors, where contact with wildlife can occur without your knowledge.

When your pet is vaccinated, they become a barrier against rabies transmission. Even if they encounter a rabid animal, they cannot pass the disease on to you or your family.

To help protect pets and people, we are proud to offer free rabies vaccination clinics. These clinics provide an easy and accessible way to keep your pets up to date, creating a safer community for everyone.

Remember: protecting your pet’s health means protecting your family’s health too. Stay informed, stay proactive, and join us in our mission to keep Mecklenburg County safe and rabies-free.

Help us keep this program free by donating!

2025 Dates:

  • November 8

  • December 13

Where:
2725 Beam Road, Charlotte, NC 28217 (Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center)

Important Entrance Instructions:

There are three entrances. Some GPS systems may take you to the wrong one.

  • Use the entrance gate located on Beam Road.

  • If the entrance has a keypad, it is not the correct gate. Please do not line up there. Using the wrong gate may block staff from entering to set up the clinic.

Time:
8:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
You must be in line inside the gate of the Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center by 10:45 a.m. to be served.  The gate closes at 10:45 a.m.

Drive-Thru Clinic Instructions

Thank you for bringing your pet to our free rabies clinic. Ensuring your pet’s rabies vaccine is current is vital for their health, your family’s safety, and because it is required by North Carolina law.

To make the process easier, our clinics are drive-thru style. This helps reduce stress for pets and keeps families comfortable in their cars.

Before You Arrive:

  • Make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle; wait times can be long.

  • Bring a valid driver’s license or government-issued ID.

  • This clinic is for Mecklenburg County residents only.

What to Expect:

  • No appointment is required.

  • Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be at least 12 weeks old to receive the rabies vaccine.

  • 1-year rabies vaccines only.

  • Dogs must be on a leash.

  • Cats must be in a secure carrier. (If your cat is not in a carrier, you will be asked to return when they are safely contained.)

  • Stay in your vehicle at all times.

  • Look for our staff in yellow vests for assistance and traffic directions.

  • A staff member will come to your car for paperwork.

  • You will hold your pet during vaccination; staff will guide you.

  • After vaccination, you will receive a rabies certificate with the tag taped to it. Keep this in a safe place.

  • Set a reminder to renew the rabies vaccine next year.

Possible Vaccine Reactions:
On rare occasions, pets may have a reaction. Staff will provide information on what to watch for and where to go if your pet shows signs of a reaction.

dog in car with family see below for mega clinic info

Mega Clinics

Mega Clinics are held twice a year for residents of Mecklenburg County. Depending on available grant funding, community partnerships, and donations, the goal is to provide free one-year and three-year rabies vaccinations, core vaccines for dogs and cats, and microchipping services.

Save the tentative dates for 2026 Mega Clinics
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026


 

  

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