Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Honor World Rabies Day with Pasadena Humane Society

In honor of World Rabies Day this Friday, Sept. 28, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA reminds pet owners that rabies is a serious, yet preventable, disease. Licensing dogs, as well as keeping current vaccinations can help prevent the spread of this deadly and highly contagious disease. 

A dog license is required by the State of California, must be renewed annually and the dog must be current with its rabies vaccination. The small fee is decided by each city and may be lower if a dog is spayed or neutered. A mandated dog license program developed as a method of tracking rabies. The other benefits of licensing include a visible means of identification in case a dog gets lost, and some licensing fees help support a city’s animal care programs.

“Licensing your dog and keeping him or her current on their vaccines is a sure way to prevent the spread of rabies,” says Ricky Whitman, spokesperson for the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. “Many people overlook the benefits of licensing your dog.”

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is found in raccoons, bats and other mammals in our area.  This disease is commonly spread by the bite of an infected animal. If an unvaccinated dog were bitten by a rabid bat, the dog could easily develop the disease and infect other dogs and humans. The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA facilitates licensing services for Arcadia, La Cañada Flintridge,San Marino and Sierra Madre, and will start the service forSouth Pasadena on October 1. The agency’s next public low cost vaccine clinic, which offers the rabies vaccine for dogs and cats for $6, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 10 from 6:00p.m.-7:30p.m.  All members of the public are welcome. More information on World Rabies Day can be found at http://www.worldrabiesday.org. For more information about dog licensing and the public low cost vaccine clinic, visit: www.pasadenahumane.org.

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