Dealing with the county’s population of dogs, cats, horses and other domesticated animals is never an easy job for the men and women with Cass County Animal Control.

Judging by the generosity and donations the community has contributed to the agency in recent months, it’s certainly not a thankless one, though.

Employees with animal control will be repaying citizens in kind, with two free rabies clinics for county senior citizens in the coming days. The first will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, inside the Cass County COA Lowe Center in Cassopolis; the second will take place on from 12 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, inside the COA Front Street Crossing in Dowagiac.

The clinics, which will be offered to dogs belonging to Cass County residents over the age of 65, were devised by Animal Control Director Michael Grice as a way to give back the community, he said. Last June, the division of the county sheriff’s office received a donation of $1,500 from Honor Credit Union, which, along with donations from other individuals in the county, will pay for the costs of holding the two clinics.

“We were blessed with this $1,500 donation, and we figured there has to be a way to pay this forward,” Grice said.

Animal control has hosted similar rabies clinics for county residents before, offering rabies and seven-way shots for dogs at deeply discounted prices outside of the veterinarian’s office. Animal physicians usually give 70 or more shots during these clinics, Grice said.

“A lot of dogs don’t get regular veterinarian work, so this a chance for them to get the shots they might need,” Grice said.

Working with animal control for the clinics are doctors Michael Lampen, with Bergman Veterinary Medical Hospital, and Eugene Wilson, with Dowagiac Animal Hospital. The two will be volunteering their time during the two clinics, with animal control covering supplies.

Grice decided to offer the free service for area senior citizens in particular, due to the fact that many of them are living on fixed incomes and can’t necessarily afford to have their pets vaccinated or examined on a regular basis, he said.

“A lot of seniors have to make the decision about whether they’re going to take their pet to vet or buy food for the week,” he said. “We want to make sure they’re taken care of.”

Interest in the free clinics appears to be high, with plenty of residents already preregistering, Grice said.

To register or for more information about the clinic, call the COA at 445-8110 or animal control at 445-3701. Walk-ins will also be accepted on the days of the clinics.