The Animal Program investigates animal-related complaints in order to protect the health and safety of residents. We offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics, along with Animal Response Team training to help protect the community in the event of an emergency.
Specific services include:
Animal bite reporting and quarantines
Investigating animal diseases harmful to people
Dangerous animal investigations
Indoor animal filth or odor investigations
Domestic and exotic animal permits
Rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets
Information about animal diseases
Animal Response Team development
Rabies Vaccination Clinics
Clinics are for dogs, cats and ferrets. The law requires dogs, cats and ferrets over three months of age to have a current rabies vaccination in Franklin County.
Open to the general public.
Held the second Friday of every month* from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Columbus Public Health.
Cost is $10.00 per vaccination (cash only).
All dogs, cats, and ferrets must be on a leash or in an animal carrier.
Animals between 3 months and 1 year of age will receive a 1-year rabies vaccination.
Animals over 1 year old with proof of a current rabies vaccination will receive a 3-year vaccination. For persons wanting a 3-year vaccination for their pet, please bring current rabies vaccination certificates and rabies tags to the clinic.
*The October clinic has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Animal Bites & Dangerous Animal Reporting
Animal bite reports and dangerous animal reports can be made by:
Animal Response Team
Any person having a background, interest, or licensure in animal care can volunteer to become a member of the local Animal Response Team. This team seeks to protect and respond to the health and needs of people and their animals involved in a disaster by raising the awareness of public health concerns and crisis management through training, educational opportunities, and networking.
To learn more, come early to a rabies immunization clinic, which are held the second Friday of every month. Animal Response Team meetings begin at 1:00 before each rabies clinic in room 119C at Columbus Public Health (240 Parsons Ave, Columbus, Ohio). The one-hour session includes a discussion of the development, training, and exercises for the response team. Afterwards, volunteers are encouraged to participate and assist at the rabies immunization clinics which are scheduled from 2:00-4:00 at Columbus Public Health.