MATTAPOISETT — Dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes lined up outside the old Mattapoisett fire station on County Road for the town’s annual rabies clinic on Sunday, April 23.

Among them was Harry, a 10-year-old Shih Tzu, who, according to owner Fran Vickers, is no stranger to this clinic.

“We come here every year,” she said.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., owners brought their dogs and cats to the clinic and paid $15 for a rabies shot, administered by Dr. Jill O’Brien of the Mattapoisett Animal Hospital.

As an “only child,” Harry wasn’t the biggest fan of other dogs waiting in line. He did enjoy the attention he got from 3-year-old August Lambert and his 7-year-old sister Sadie. The Lamberts brought Joy Savannah, their 11-year-old Whippet, to the clinic.

While the windy weather was not ideal for waiting in line, Harry and the other pooches showed dogged persistence while waiting their turn.

Once Harry finally got inside the old fire station, Vickers filled out paperwork while assistant animal wrangler Kelly Wagner and O’Brien gave him his shot.

“It's all for public health,” said O’Brien.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it jumps from animals to humans, and it is almost always fatal to both.

While anyone could bring their dogs to be vaccinated, only Mattapoisett residents could license their pets at the event.