EL PASO, Texas -- Larry Sutton said on December 23, he was in Juarez when a stray dog bit him on the leg breaking the skin. Sutton said nurses told him he needed to start a series of rabies vaccinations within 72 hours of the bite, and that only Thomason Hospital had the serum on hand.

"I began to call around to medical clinics knowing I needed the shot. Nobody carried the serum," said Sutton. "Basically I didn't know what else to do. I had no choice."

Sutton said he asked how much the vaccine would cost, and they did not know. He found out a few weeks ago when he opened the bills. The first bill is for the rabies vaccine shot and a tetnus shot. It adds up to nearly $4500. But the other bills are for the same service. They vary from $700 to $180.

"When I saw the amounts, I was astonished," said Sutton. "It was almost comical. We're talking $8,500 for six shots, five rabies and one tetanus."

The bills charge for trips to the emergency room. Sutton said he had no choice in that matter. He made appointments, but said he was told the shots could only be administered in the ER.

"How come I had to go through the emergency room, if I had appointments?" Sutton asked.

Health officials said the rabies vaccine is very expensive. The director of the El Paso Public Health Department quoted close to $2,000, but that was several years ago. But with only a 1 percent human survival rate, health officials said the vaccinations are necessary if you may have been exposed to rabies.

KFOX contacted Thomason Hospital officials to get specific questions answered about Sutton's bill. But the calls were not returned.

Dr. Ken Waldrup from the Texas Department of State Health Services said patients can get the vaccine at hospitals other than Thomason. Those hospitals may not have it on hand, but they can order it. State Health Services will also administer the vaccine regardless of ability to pay.