Fix Houston West is providing free rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats all week! 

Houston has the dubious honor of being Dog Bite Capitol of the nation. On Friday, May 16th the United States Postal Service, City of Houston, and Saving Animals gathered at the Houston Main Post Office to officially launch National Dog Bite Prevention Week (DBPW) in Houston. DBPW officially runs May 18th to 24th. Houston postal employees suffered the most dog bites last year, followed by Santa Ana, CA, with 86; Sacramento, CA, 82; Los Angeles, CA, 71; and the Big Valley District with 69 bites. Last year, more than 3,000 city and rural carriers were attacked by dogs across the U.S.  -including 103 city and rural carriers from the Houston metro area alone.

"Fertile dogs and cats are 6 times more likely to bite or scratch than
spayed or neutered animals," said Sean Hawkins, "that's why spaying and neutering is such an important part of reducing the risk of bites."

Fortunately, this total of over 3,000 is 63 fewer carriers victimized by dog attacks than the previous year, thanks to community outreach efforts with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and other organizations nationwide, including the National Association of Letter Carriers. 

Deloris J. Killette, Vice President and Consumer Advocate, U.S. Postal Service; Bobby Collins, Postmaster, City of Houston; Dr. Bonnie Beaver, Behavioralist, American Veterinary Medical Association; Sean Hawkins, President, Saving Animals; Kent Robertson, Director, Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care; Sergeant Timmers, Animal Cruelty Investigative Division, Harris County Precinct 6; Willie Ferguson, President, Branch 283, National Association of Letter Carriers; Lester Stubblefield, Master of Ceremonies, Manager, Customer Service Operations all participated in the press conference.

Rabies is spread by bites and scratches.  In an effort to help stop
rabies, and to encourage sterilization of dogs and cats, Fix Houston is offering free rabies vaccinations during DBPW. The Fix Houston West Spay & Neuter Clinic Mickey Hagey Center for Animals is located at 17575 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas.  For hours of operation and other information regarding this promotion please call (281) 578-0252 or visit.

Saving Animals' Fix Houston SM is a five year plan to create a model major American city where there are no homeless dogs and cats. More than $2 million has been committed to build and equip five new spay and neuter clinics in Houston. We still need to raise $3 million to reach our goal to help operate the clinics and sterilize 60,000 dogs and cats each year to end animal homelessness by 2013.

Houston's first permanent Pet Adoption Center, sponsored by Petco Foundation, located in an up-scale retail environment dedicated exclusively to adopting dogs and cats from both Harris County's and the City of Houston's public shelters.