• By Lynne Mitchell
• Posted Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Low-cost Rabies Clinic to be held April 21

It is required that dogs be on leashes and cats and ferrets be in carriers. If you do not have a carrier, loaners are available. Pets must be 3 months of age or older to receive the rabies shot. We will be giving both 1 and 3-year vaccinations. In order for your pet to receive a 3-year vaccination, you must bring a previous rabies certificate for your pet as proof of previous rabies vaccination. If the certification shows your pet is more than 1-year overdue for their Rabies shot, your pet will receive a 1-year shot. If you do not bring a rabies certificate to the clinic, your pet will receive a 1-year rabies shot. This clinic is open to residents in Forsyth and surrounding counties. For more information, call (336) 703-3110.

In 2011, there were 18 confirmed cases of Rabies in Forsyth County. Rabies is a preventable disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. That is because rabid animals have the disease in their saliva or drool. If rabies enters the body, it attacks the brain and spinal cord.

In North Carolina, raccoons are more likely to have rabies than any other animal. However, cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, and farm animals can also get rabies. Even humans can get rabies. Rabies kills if it is not prevented. Once signs of the disease appear in an animal or a human, they usually die within 10 days. But you can get anti-rabies shots to fight off the disease. Rabies shots need to be given as soon as possible after a bite has occurred, before symptoms appear. The vaccination consists of a series of six shots given over 30 days.