Protect Your Pet & Community: Sat. May 11 with $25 Rabies Vaccination
Written by admin, April 30, 2013
April 30, 2013 -Low-Cost Rabies Clinics Taking Place across Peterborough City and County
The Peterborough Public Health and local veterinarians are teaming up again this year to provide pet owners with low-cost rabies clinics across Peterborough City and County on Saturday, May 11 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
The cost for a rabies shot is only $25 per animal, cash only. The clinics are for dogs and cats only and they must be restrained.
“Protecting your cat or dog against rabies is not just a good idea, it’s the law,” said Atul Jain, Manager of Inspection Services who oversees the rabies prevention program for Public Health. “We hope that the community will take advantage of these low-cost rabies clinics because while it’s rare, when humans develop rabies from infected animals it is almost 100% fatal.”
Provincial law requires that all cats and dogs over three months of age in Peterborough City and County must be vaccinated for rabies. Vaccinations protect pets from rabies and help protect your family if your pet is bitten by a rabid wild animal. A conviction for not having an animal properly vaccinated carries a $110.00 fine per animal.
Rabies vaccination clinics are taking place at the following locations throughout Peterborough City and County on May 11 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.:
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COMMUNITY |
LOCATION: All clinics run on Saturday, May 11 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted: |
|
APSLEY |
North Kawartha Community Centre – Zamboni entrance |
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BUCKHORN |
Harvey Township Garage |
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DOURO |
Township Garage |
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DUMMER |
Warsaw Township Fire Hall |
|
ENNISMORE |
Township Fire Hall |
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KINMOUNT |
Fire Hall, Galway Rd. ($20.00 per animal) |
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HAVELOCK |
HBM Public Works Garage (6th line Belmont & Hwy 7) |
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LAKEFIELD |
Village Animal Hospital, 127 Queen St. Lakefield |
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NORWOOD |
Norwood Veterinary Services (12 noon – 3:00 p.m.)4247 Hwy 7, 88 Peterborough Street |
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PETERBOROUGH |
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The Ministry of Natural Resources’ aggressive Rabies Control Program has dramatically reduced the incidence of rabies in foxes, skunks and raccoons in Ontario. Bats, like other mammals, may have rabies and can transmit rabies to dogs and cats. There are eight species of bats in Ontario, each of which has its own strain of rabies, but the more common strains are big brown bat, little brown bat, and silver-haired bat.
In 2012, there were 25 rabid bats (four of these were in the Peterborough area), one rabid skunk, one rabid dog (who became infected with bat strain rabies) and one rabid cat confirmed in Ontario. Pet vaccination and the provincial baiting program are still required to keep rabies at bay for the protection of Ontario families.
Rabies is a deadly disease of the central nervous system that affects humans and other mammals. The virus is concentrated in the saliva of a rabid animal and can spread through a bite, cut or scratch, or if the saliva comes in contact with the moist tissues of the mouth, nose or eyes. There is no known treatment for rabies once the symptoms appear. The disease cannot be treated, but it can be prevented through vaccination.
All animal bites or other cases of suspected rabies exposure must be reported to Public Health. The Public Health investigates every report it receives to prevent and control the spread of the disease. In 2012, a total of 233 cases were investigated in the Peterborough city/county area.
You can prevent being infected with the rabies virus by remembering these tips:
- do not feed wild animals and stay at a safe distance when observing them
- supervise children and teach them not to approach or touch animals they do not know
- stay away from animals showing signs of rabies
- do not bring home wild animals
- if you suspect an animal is rabid, stay away from it and contact the local authorities
- if you have pets or livestock, make sure to vaccinate them against rabies
- seek medical advice/care for all animal bites or scratches
For further information about rabies prevention, including bat rabies, and the upcoming clinics on May 11, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and under the “My Home & Environment” section click on “My Home – Rabies Prevention” or call 705-743-1000.
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For further information, please contact:
Atul Jain
Manager, Inspection Programs
(705) 743-1000, ext. 259