Harlingen Health Department

05/29/2026

Are your backyard cookouts up to code? 🌡️🍔

When our health inspectors visit commercial kitchens, one of the most critical things they monitor is strict temperature control. As we head into prime barbecue season, we want you to apply those same professional food safety standards at home.

The number one culprit for foodborne illness at outdoor gatherings is the Temperature Danger Zone—the range between 40°F and 140°F.

When perishable foods like potato salad, raw meats, or dairy-based dips are left in this zone, bacteria can double in number in as little as 20 minutes.

How to eat like a health inspector this weekend:

Keep Cold Food Cold (Below 40°F): Nest serving dishes into larger bowls filled with ice. Keep coolers closed and out of direct sunlight.

Keep Hot Food Hot (Above 140°F): Use chafing dishes, slow cookers, or warming trays. Do not rely on ambient outdoor heat to keep cooked food safe.

The Texas Heat Rule: Normally, food can sit out for two hours. However, if the outdoor temperature is 90°F or above, food must be refrigerated or discarded after exactly ONE hour.

Don't let improper food handling ruin your weekend plans. Stay safe, Harlingen!

05/28/2026

🐾 Microchipping: Myth vs. Fact! 🐾

Did you know one of the biggest myths about microchips is that they work like GPS? 👀

The truth is, a microchip is a simple, permanent form of identification that can help reunite you with your pet if they ever get lost. It’s quick, safe, and can make all the difference in bringing furry family members back home 💙

A microchip only works if your information is up to date — so don’t forget to check your registration details!

📍 Protect your pet today.
📞 Harlingen Health & Animal Care Services: (956) 216-5220
🕒 Open Monday–Friday until 5:00 PM

05/28/2026

🎉 Mark your calendars because this is an event you do NOT want to miss! 👀✨

🍻 Brews, music, and summer vibes are coming to Harlingen! 🎶
Join us Saturday, June 13th from 6–10 PM at Lon C. Hill Park for the Brews & Tunes Summer Beer Fest featuring over 20 breweries and live music from 24K Magic – The World’s #1 Bruno Mars Tribute Band!
🎟️ Tickets start at just $10.
https://tixplug.com/shop/brews-tunes-summer-beer-fest/
Tag your crew and get ready for an unforgettable night! ☀️

05/27/2026

🐾 Hurricane season is coming. Make sure your pet has a way home.

The Harlingen Animal Shelter is hosting a low-cost Microchip Clinic for Harlingen residents on Saturday, May 30 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 1106 Markowsky Ave.

💲 Only $10 per microchip
📍 Harlingen Residents Only
📋 Bring a valid ID, recent utility bill, and $10 fee

Collars can fall off. Tags can get lost. Microchips don’t.

Pre-fill your English or Spanish forms using the QR codes on the flyer before arrival.

English: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1KhLLvPuevwpDHa20X89BW4nQDjLFsaLazqeWMh3v6V4/mobilebasic =h.vcs0lss41cak

Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/17_j496kLZ7DHW1V7W_qCHwl7lj8y3WA4EUOh_2bq8DQ/mobilebasic

05/26/2026

Can You Spot All 8 Mosquito Breeding Hazards in This Backyard?

The warm weather in Harlingen is here, but so are the mosquitoes! Standard public health advice often gets overlooked, but today we’re putting your observations to the test with a round of Mosquito Hide-and-Seek.

1️⃣ Clogged Rain Gutter: If leaves block the flow, they create a perfect, hidden canal for stagnant water and debris.
2️⃣ Discarded Tires: One of the #1 mosquito breeding spots. The dark, curved interior is impossible to dry out.
3️⃣ Unchanged Pet Bowl: Even clean water becomes a hazard if it sits for more than a few days. (Yes, even that tiny bit of spillage!)
4️⃣ Plastic Containers/Buckets: Any item that can collect water must be overturned, put away, or thrown out.
5️⃣ Bird Baths: Birds love them, but mosquitoes love the still water even more. Tip and refill every few days!
6️⃣ Tarps on Firewood: Wrinkles and low spots on tarps collect deep puddles that are often ignored.
7️⃣ Plant Saucers: The hidden overflow under your pots is a major breeding ground. Check them after every watering.
8️⃣ Watering Cans: Water left inside creates a dark, moist, stagnant environment that mosquitoes seek out.

Your backyard can produce thousands of mosquitoes if you're not careful. This weekend, take 10 minutes to walk your property and do a "Tip and Toss" of any potential sources.

05/22/2026

🇺🇸 In observance of Memorial Day, all non-emergency City of Harlingen offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026.
As we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we thank you for your understanding. ❤️🤍💙
City services will resume regular hours on Tuesday, May 26.

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Smiles, wagging tails, and a paws-itively great time! 🐾☀️

The Harlingen Health Department and Animal Shelter had an amazing time hosting the wonderful students of M.I. Academy for a special visit before summer starts!

Students had the opportunity to interact, play, and share lots of love with some of our adorable shelter pets — Pudding, Winston, and Zuri — who definitely enjoyed all the extra attention 💛

Thank you to the incredible students and staff of M.I. Academy for spending time with us and helping create such a fun and memorable day. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and well-deserved summer! ☀️🐶

05/21/2026

Come Join us at 10 AM to get vital information about Service Animals! Hope to see you there Harlingen.

🚨🐕‍🦺 We’re hosting a Service Animal Training for local business owners to learn the laws and best practices regarding service animals in public spaces!

The following individuals will be joining us TOMORROW at 10am to answer questions and help ensure respectful experiences for business owners, customers, and service animal handlers:

⭐️ Ted Evans — Disability Rights Attorney
⭐️ Ricky Rendon — Texas Workforce Commission
⭐️ Macarena Pena — Texas Workforce Commission

For more information and to RSVP, please visit https://forms.gle/ypgSoQ7Z8SPzYiRi9.

05/20/2026

Happy World Bee Day, Harlingen! 🐝🌎

Today we are taking a quick break from our regular broadcasting to celebrate our favorite pollinators! Bees are essential for our food supply, our local agriculture, and the beautiful blooms all around our city.

But while we love our bees, we still have zero tolerance for biters! 🦟🚫

Our Vector Control team focuses on targeting mosquitoes—which are disease-transmitting vectors—while working to protect our beneficial insects. You can help us "Keep the Bloom and Lose the Bite" in your own backyard:

Tip & Toss: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, not in flowers! Protect your yard without harming bees by emptying water from birdbaths, old tires, buckets, and plant saucers at least once a week.

Spray Smart: If you use personal pest control in your yard, try to apply it at dusk when bees are safely back in their hives, and avoid spraying directly onto blooming flowers.

Let’s work together to keep our community healthy and our local ecosystem thriving! 🌻🍯