Pet owners are cut from a bit of a different cloth.
Whether their furry friend is a new pup, an old dog, a precocious kitten or a lazy house cat, the love between a human and their pet is strong.
That’s why this year, perhaps more than any year in recent memory, pet owners need to be on the ball regarding their animal’s vaccinations – specifically the rabies vaccine.
So far in 2021, there have been five confirmed cases of rabies among animals brought to the Macon County Public Health animal services department. Macon County had not had more than one positive rabies case in any given year since the NC Department of Health and Human Services began tracking county data in 1999.
Prior to this year, the last confirmed case of rabies in Macon County was in a raccoon discovered in 2020. A bat discovered in 2018 was Macon County’s only confirmed case for the previous two years.
While rabies is a known illness in North Carolina wildlife populations, including skunks, raccoons and bats, the sudden surge of cases is a cause for concern.
The first and best line of defense to protect a pet from potential rabies exposure is to keep vaccinations current and Macon County Public Health is ready to help in that effort. The county will be sponsoring low-cost rabies vaccination clinics at three locations in coming weeks.
The drive-thru rabies vaccination clinics will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on March 27 at East Franklin Elementary School and from 1 – 4 p.m. on March 27 at Mountain View Intermediate School and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 10 at Cartoogechaye Elementary School. For more information, call 828-349-2106.
Shots will be administered while the pet is still in the vehicle for a cost of $10. State law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of four months must be vaccinated for rabies annually.
Whether you make the drive to Franklin, or go to a private veterinarian, take the time to get your pet vaccinated.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry.