News
Fifth Annual Statewide Rabies Vaccination Day Planned for April 3
Cities and towns to hold low-cost rabies vaccination clinics
Cities and towns across the Commonwealth will hold low-cost rabies vaccination clinics on Saturday, April 3rd as part of the Fifth Annual Massachusetts Rabies Vaccination Day. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Bureau of Animal Health started this program to raise awareness of rabies and increase compliance with state vaccination laws. All dogs, cats and ferrets living in Massachusetts are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies.
Pet owners are encouraged to bring the family pet to be vaccinated against rabies on April 3rd to locations designated by cities and towns. The cost of the vaccination will be about $10 per animal. A list of participating communities will be posted on the Department of Agricultural Resources' web page, at http://www.mass.gov/agr.
Rabies Vaccination Day is co-sponsored by the Department of Agricultural Resources and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and in cooperation with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association and the Cape Cod Veterinary Association. The Governor will also be declaring April as Rabies Awareness Month.
In 2003, over 215 animals tested positive for rabies at the State Lab. More than 240 domestic animals were exposed to the virus as a result. Just over 80 percent of the dogs exposed were current on their rabies vaccinations. Sadly, less than 45 percent of the cats were up-to-date on their shots. Because of the low compliance with the vaccination laws, euthanasia was the outcome in nearly 10 percent of the domestic animal exposure cases. Last year, 20 pets had to be put to sleep after exposures because they were not currently vaccinated. Over 100 cats, and 6 dogs have contracted rabies in Massachusetts since September of 1992.
Rabies is an infectious and contagious disease that can be transmitted to humans. The virus is considered to be 100 percent fatal, if untreated. To protect the public, exposed dogs and cats that are not currently vaccinated, must either be isolated at an animal hospital for three months, or be destroyed.
Rabies is now a permanent fixture in the wildlife population of Massachusetts. Though the virus may not be detected in an area for long periods of time, it is still present. Vaccinating your dog or cat is the best way to prevent the threat of rabies from entering your home. Keeping your pets up-to-date on their rabies shots is not only the law, it is also in the best interest of your animals and your family.
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