The Park Forest Police Department is partnering with the South Suburban Humane Society this Saturday to offer Cook County residents a free drive-thru dog clinic in the Village Hall parking lot.

The event will start at 8 a.m. and continue until noon at 350 Victory Drive. The first 300 residents to arrive will be able to get a free first-year rabies and distemper vaccine for their pup. Additionally, free microchips will be available for your dog.

Community Service Officer Braedon Norbut encouraged residents to take advantage of the drive-thru clinic in order to help keep their four-legged friends safe.

"Microchipping is a permanent and effective way to identify your dog and increase the chances of being reunited with them if they get lost or stolen," Norbut said. "In addition to microchipping, vaccinating your dog is important because it can help prevent many diseases that can be fatal, costly to treat, or passed to other animals and people."

Norbut added recently that a rabid bat bit a Park Forest resident, causing them to be hospitalized. He reiterated that vaccinating your pup can help prevent a dog from transferring the deadly disease to a person. 

Some people have asked why the dog clinic is open only to Cook County residents. Norbut explained that the South Suburban Humane Society is providing Cook County tags to anyone who vaccinates their dog for rabies, and that's why the clinic isn't available to those residing on the Will County side of the Village. However, he mentioned that residents of Will County should visit the Village's website and check their social media platforms to get information about when a free dog clinic will be offered in Will County.

The first 300 residents are welcome to participate in the free dog clinic on Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Village Hall parking lot at 350 Victory Drive.