No one likes taking a pet dog to the vet and wincing as your "best friend" gets a shot.
But vaccinations are critical for animal health and some are required by law.
However, those laws have changed, leaving many owners confused.
So who's calling the shots?
They dominate the sidewalk at this Arlington dog-wash, sometimes by the hundreds.
Pets and their people, waiting on low-cost vaccines.
"$7? Can't beat it," said one person in the line.
"It's a lot cheaper to do it here than it would be for the vet!" said another.
"People come here to get their pets protected, they don't just come here necessarily to get shots," said veterinarian, Johnny Todd.
Twice a week - vets and techs offer $7 rabies vaccinations and other shots and tests, if required.
Veronica has brought "Rocky" in for the first time.
The cost here is half or a third what it would otherwise cost.
But just as problematic as cost - according to some animal experts - the confusion over what vaccines are required - and how often.
"There is a lot of misinformation out there among the general public," said Professor Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A &M Vet School.
In Texas, rabies shots were required annually.
Now, because of improved vaccines, they're required once every three years.
"I haven't heard about that," said Dustin Music, a dog owner.
"So people go to their vets, and they get all these shots done and the vets not going tell you not to get everything done if it's not necessary, because they want your money. So people get their pets over-vaccinated for sure," said another dog owner, Ebony Danek.
There is a sizeable mark-up in vaccines when given in a vet clinic.
But most vets say - equally as important - is the check-up a dog receives at the same time.
"As each vet is trying to weigh out the risks in their endemic area, versus the potential side effects," said veterinarian, Jennifer Lavender.
Dr. Jennifer Lavender recently found a life-threatening condition on a dog when it came in for a required vaccine.
"And we found a congenital heart murmur on that puppy and now he's slated for surgery at A&M," she added.
Legal vaccine requirements vary.
Some municipalities still mandate an annual rabies vaccination, regardless of state policy.
Add to that the variations in other so-called "core" vaccines for hepatitis, parvo and distemper.
And the opinions fly.
"Some veterinarians take the position that it's not gonna hurt the dog to give these extra vaccinations, and let's err on the side of precaution... but twice as much isn't necessarily as good," said Don Praeger from the Arlington Humane Society.
"There are some studies that indicate that it can cause an increase in sarcomas which are cancerous tumors," he added.
He - like some owners - administers non-rabies vaccinations himself - to be certain his border collie Rolex doesn't get too much.
But even that can be problematic, if the medicine has not been handled properly.
"Most of the cases of disease that we see are... in animals that have been vaccinated by their owners," said Professor Beaver.
Still, most animal science experts say the vast majority of dogs are better served with regular vaccines - administered on a case-by-case basis by veterinarians.
Factors like age, lifestyle and geography all play a part.
Older dogs don't need most vaccines.
Puppies do.
Hunting dogs need more protection than indoor, urban dogs.
Like humans, each dog needs customized care and each vet needs clients.
And each veterinarian needs to make money, but can - in partnership with an owner - provided critically-important preventative care.
Prevention and a slight prick to keep hounds healthy.
But vaccinations are critical for animal health and some are required by law.
However, those laws have changed, leaving many owners confused.
So who's calling the shots?
They dominate the sidewalk at this Arlington dog-wash, sometimes by the hundreds.
Pets and their people, waiting on low-cost vaccines.
"$7? Can't beat it," said one person in the line.
"It's a lot cheaper to do it here than it would be for the vet!" said another.
"People come here to get their pets protected, they don't just come here necessarily to get shots," said veterinarian, Johnny Todd.
Twice a week - vets and techs offer $7 rabies vaccinations and other shots and tests, if required.
Veronica has brought "Rocky" in for the first time.
The cost here is half or a third what it would otherwise cost.
But just as problematic as cost - according to some animal experts - the confusion over what vaccines are required - and how often.
"There is a lot of misinformation out there among the general public," said Professor Bonnie Beaver, a professor at Texas A &M Vet School.
In Texas, rabies shots were required annually.
Now, because of improved vaccines, they're required once every three years.
"I haven't heard about that," said Dustin Music, a dog owner.
"So people go to their vets, and they get all these shots done and the vets not going tell you not to get everything done if it's not necessary, because they want your money. So people get their pets over-vaccinated for sure," said another dog owner, Ebony Danek.
There is a sizeable mark-up in vaccines when given in a vet clinic.
But most vets say - equally as important - is the check-up a dog receives at the same time.
"As each vet is trying to weigh out the risks in their endemic area, versus the potential side effects," said veterinarian, Jennifer Lavender.
Dr. Jennifer Lavender recently found a life-threatening condition on a dog when it came in for a required vaccine.
"And we found a congenital heart murmur on that puppy and now he's slated for surgery at A&M," she added.
Legal vaccine requirements vary.
Some municipalities still mandate an annual rabies vaccination, regardless of state policy.
Add to that the variations in other so-called "core" vaccines for hepatitis, parvo and distemper.
And the opinions fly.
"Some veterinarians take the position that it's not gonna hurt the dog to give these extra vaccinations, and let's err on the side of precaution... but twice as much isn't necessarily as good," said Don Praeger from the Arlington Humane Society.
"There are some studies that indicate that it can cause an increase in sarcomas which are cancerous tumors," he added.
He - like some owners - administers non-rabies vaccinations himself - to be certain his border collie Rolex doesn't get too much.
But even that can be problematic, if the medicine has not been handled properly.
"Most of the cases of disease that we see are... in animals that have been vaccinated by their owners," said Professor Beaver.
Still, most animal science experts say the vast majority of dogs are better served with regular vaccines - administered on a case-by-case basis by veterinarians.
Factors like age, lifestyle and geography all play a part.
Older dogs don't need most vaccines.
Puppies do.
Hunting dogs need more protection than indoor, urban dogs.
Like humans, each dog needs customized care and each vet needs clients.
And each veterinarian needs to make money, but can - in partnership with an owner - provided critically-important preventative care.
Prevention and a slight prick to keep hounds healthy.
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