Several clinics aimed at helping pet owners protect their dogs or cats from rabies will provide opportunities for vaccinations starting Saturday across the Simcoe Muskoka region.
The shots are meant for helping those animals, aged three months or older, help prevent what could be a fatal disease.
Rabies is zoonotic viral disease that can come in two clinical forms: furious, and paralytic. Both cause different moods and symptoms within the infected animal, but lead to progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is typically spread through bites or scratches from previously infected creature, posing a risk to both pets and humans.
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"The best way to protect yourself and your family against rabies is to have your pets vaccinated, it is also the law," The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) said in a news release. "In addition to vaccinating your pet, you can help prevent the spread of rabies by not allowing cats or dogs to roam free and keeping them indoors at night. Remind your family to stay away from unfamiliar dogs and cats, as well as all wildlife, including bats."
Veterinarians across the region are volunteering their time to operate the clinics, which are aimed to be of low cost to pet owners. The clinics will take place beginning Saturday in Midland, with more scheduled across the region through to October 25.
One-year and three-year vaccines will be offered based on the pet's vaccination status. Owners are encouraged to consult with their veterinarian to determine when their pet should receive its next shot and to bring a vaccination certificate to the clinic to help with the process.
Pet owners are still asked to contact their local vet to arrange a vaccination if they can't attent the clinics, which are limited.
The health unit recommends anyone who has been bitten or scratched by a domestic or wild animal or been in direct contact with a bat should seek immediate medical attention and report the incident to public health authorities.
In 2024, the SMDHU's inspectors investigated 1,804 potential rabies exposure incidents, of which 1,551 involved cats or dogs. Approximately half of these investigations involved unvaccinated pets.
A woman was hospitalized in September 2024 after acquiring the first case of rabies in a human since 1967. The SMDHU adds that even though that particular case occurred in Brant County and human contraction is rare, it is important to recognize rabies is present in racoons, fox and skunks, and other such animals.
