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Rabies clinic at Bellbrae next week

Bellbrae Animal Hospital running a rabies clinic on Sept. 26
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Is your pet protected?

The Bellbrae Animal Hospital in Collingwood will be holding their annual rabies clinic on Sept. 26, and is urging people to bring in their pets to get their shots.

“Even indoor cats, we recommend they get vaccinated,” says Dr. Allison Ashleigh of the Bellbrae Animal Hospital, adding that there are instances of indoor animal contracting rabies from other animals making their way into homes, such as mice or bats.

It is also required by law that all pets have updated rabies vaccines.

“It is a deadly disease for both humans and animals, so we want to make sure we protect them,” says Ashleigh.

Bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes are all known to carry the disease.

Ashleigh says the clinic tends to see more than 100 animals annually, adding that while most of the rabies outbreaks in Ontario have been closer to the Hamilton area, it doesn’t hurt for animals to be protected here.

“Rabies is a neurological disease and can cause neurological changes,” says Ashleigh. “There is no cure for rabies, especially once an animal is showing symptoms.”

Rabies is transmitted through saliva, so it can be transferred through a bite or saliva coming in contact with an open wound.

The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit has been organizing many rabies clinics across the county, taking place between Sept. 26 and Nov. 11.

“We’re really grateful to the veterinarians who are giving their time to these clinics,” said rabies program co-ordinator Tanya Fehr with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. “Pet owners are required by law to have their pets immunized against rabies, and with the number of clinics this year we hope to be able to build significantly on the protection against rabies across the region.”

Rabies clinics are just one important part of a broader program to prevent rabies from occurring in Simcoe and Muskoka. Thanks to vaccination of pets, baiting of wild raccoons and foxes and public awareness, Ontario’s incidence of rabies is lower than many other areas in North America.

Health unit staff investigated 1,242 animal exposure incidents in 2017. Many of the investigations resulted in rabies vaccines for people as a precaution.

The Bellbrae Animal Hospital rabies clinic takes place on Sept. 26 from 2 to 7 p.m. The cost is $25, cash only and both dogs and cats are eligible. The clinic asks that any cats must be in carriers and dogs must be on leash.


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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