Division of Animal Health and Dairy Services

Animal Health home

• Animal Imports/Exports

• Animal Inspectors in Massachusetts Towns

• Equine Activities

• Pet Shops

• Rabies

• Reportable Diseases

• Legal Resources
  • Laws
  • Regulations

Bureau of Animal Health

Rabies Prevention Tips

1. Always keep your pets' rabies vaccinations up to date. The law requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies.

2. Do not attract wild animals to your house by feeding pets outside -- make sure trash cans are secured with lids.

3. Report all wildlife acting sick or disoriented to your Town Animal Control Officer.

4. Never touch wildlife (dead or alive) with your bare hands. If you must handle these animals, use heavy gloves or a shovel.

5. If your pet has an encounter with a wild animal, it's best not to handle your pet for a few hours. DO NOT attend to your pet with bare hands. Rabies virus could still be present on your pet's fur. Use gloves when cleaning your pet and be careful not to splash the water into your face.

6. Report all exposure incidents to your veterinarian and your Animal Control Officer. A rabies booster shot can help protect your pet. If your pet is not vaccinated it could pose a threat to you or your family.

Resources

• 30 CMR 10.00 Prevention of the Spread of Rabies

• Rabies FAQ

Publications

• I Was Bitten by an Animal
• How Rabies Could Affect You
• Rabies Pathogenesis
• Rabies Pathogenesis Visual Summary
• Rabies Prevention Tips

Related Links

• Centers for Disease Control
• Mass. Dept of Public Health Rabies case statistics
• Mass. Rabies Fact Sheet
• Rabies in bats in Massachusetts
• Rabies and Bats for Health Care providers
• Rabies and Bats for Campground Directors and Boards of Health