Designed to raise awareness about both human and animal rabies. The day is also about teaching everyone about the impact of rabies and how to prevent it.
Rabies is a serious disease and is 100% preventable in our animals you just have get them vaccinated every year some vaccines may be good for up to 3 years and in most cities and towns it’s the law. Just a simple shot can help you keep your pets safe and healthy.
A few good tips on keeping you and pets safe are:
• Be sure to vaccinate your pets from the disease just talk to your vet about how often to vaccinate.
• Keep away from wild animals, especially if you see them acting strange. Example, should you see a raccoon or fox roaming around during the day or if they seem tame toward humans. Rabies affects the brain and will cause them to do these kinds of things that are very much out of their norm.
• If you live in a rural area never leave your pets out alone or unsupervised.
• Call your local game warden, animal control or police if you see an animal that you think might be infected.
If your pet is bitten by a wild animal or a stray dog or cat call your veterinarian for an immediate appointment! Report the incident to your local health department and follow their recommendations.
You’ll also need to contact local animal control officers if the animal who bit your pet is still at large, they will be best able to safely apprehend and remove the animal from the environment. After having contact with a rabid animal, the rabies virus may remain alive on your pet’s skin for up to two hours. It is best not to touch your dog during this time. If you must handle your dog, wear gloves and protective clothing.
A dog who is up to date with his vaccinations and who has been bitten by a possibly rabid animal should also be given a rabies booster immediately and kept under observation for 45 days.
Sadly there is no cure for rabies, so please keep your pets up to date with vaccinations. That is the best prevention!