By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News
UPDATE: An extra date and time was added to the Autauga County schedule that is not shown on the graphic.
April 24, 2021 8:00-9:00am
Location will be MPM Feed & Seed at 1313 Hwy 31 N, Autauga County
It’s the time of the year again to make sure that your animals are vaccinated for rabies. Alabama Law requires vaccination of dogs and cats, and failure to do so can result in fines and court costs. But it’s just not a legal issue – it deals with our very own public safety.
State Veterinarian Dee Jones is keenly aware of the benefits that come from the rabies vaccination.
“This is what these clinics are all about – to provide a low-cost vaccination for your pets that’s easily accessible to the public,” Jones said. “Yes, it is required by law, but it’s so much more than just that. You are not only protecting animals, but also the people who are bitten by those animals. We want to continue to defend public health and animal lives.”
Jones said that raccoons and bats are the primary carriers of rabies and predominant spreaders. Jones said that animals, domesticated or not, are tested every year for rabie, and that the labs find about 50-60 positive cases on an average 12-month basis.
The last case of rabies in a human in the state of Alabama was reported in 1994, but that’s only been possible through the clinic’s efforts.
“Rabies is still a threat, but you can help to prevent it. It’s been a very long time since we last saw it in a human, and we can thank our local clinics and state workers for their diligent efforts in fighting against the disease,” Jones said.
Jones explained that rabies is extremely treatable and if caught early, and if you are ever bitten by an animal immediately seek medical attention.
The Autauga County Rabies Clinic Schedule is listed in the graphic. Elmore County’s dates, times, and locations are still to be determined.
