September 28th is World Rabies Day. As you might know, rabies is a viral disease contracted when someone is bitten by an infected animal. It is an entirely preventable disease.
World Rabies Day is a global health observance that seeks to raise awareness about rabies and enhance prevention and control efforts. First co-sponsored by CDC and the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC) in 2007, World Rabies Day has been celebrated in countries throughout the world, including the U.S.
World Rabies Day is an excellent time to take steps that can help prevent and control rabies, such as vaccinating pets including dogs and cats and providing education on how to avoid the animals that typically transmit rabies: raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes.
The CDC recommends you do three things to avoid rabies:
1. Keep your pet’s rabies vaccines up-to-date.
2. Keep your kids and yourself away from wildlife and unfamiliar animals (dead or alive)
3. Supervise your pet when he or she is outdoors to keep them from approaching wildlife which could be infected.
You can search for World Rabies Day events in your area from Rabies Alliance, and if you want to get involved on social media, use #EndRabiesTogether.
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!