Some 122 dogs and cats received rabies vaccines and deworming treatments at a veterinary services fair held Friday on the grounds of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dorado. The event was part of the Dejando Huellas: Feria de Amor por nuestros Animales initiative, driven by the Puerto Rico House of Representatives to make veterinary services accessible, especially in vulnerable communities.
House Speaker Carlos "Johnny" Méndez and District 11 Representative Elinette González announced the results. The day included volunteers, veterinarians from the Puerto Rico College of Veterinary Physicians, and Health Department staff assigned to the State Office for Animal Control (OECA). Méndez said the initiative is part of the House’s efforts to support communities across the island.
In Puerto Rico, the first rabies vaccine is recommended for dogs at three months of age, with annual revaccination. Since March 2025, the program has taken low-cost vaccination fairs to Aguadilla, Bayamón, Barranquitas, Cabo Rojo, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Camuy, Hatillo, Quebradillas and San Juan. According to the figures provided, more than 3,200 dogs and cats have been vaccinated against rabies through these activities, and the Canine Federation of Puerto Rico estimates about 1.4 million dogs and more than one million cats live on the island.