Rabies vaccine offered for pets

— Animal Control officer Mike Barnett would like to remind residents to make sure their dogs are wearing current rabies vaccination tags and city license tags.

Dogs and cats over the age of four months are required by city ordinance and state law to have current rabies vaccinations administered by a licensed veterinarian. Dogs are required to wear their rabies vaccination tags at all times.

Barnett said he has noticed that many owners have their dogs vaccinated but don’t put the rabies tags on the animals’ collars. Having the proper tags is essential in an emergency, for the safety of the dog and the public, he said. If a dog bites a human, Barnett can call the number on the tag and verify that the dog was vaccinated, immediately easing the victim’s mind.

“I see dogs all over the place that don’t have tags. A lot of people get the tags and don’t put them on their dog. Some people don’t get tags at all,” Barnett said.

Owners who have had their dogs vaccinated, but don’t place the proper tags on their pet’s collar can be issued a ticket, he warned.

“It’s like buying tags for your car. You don’t throw them up on top of the refrigerator and then drive your car; you’ll get a ticket,” Barnett said.

Decatur’s animal control ordinance which went into effect last July requires all dogs over three months old to be licensed annually. The license fee is $3 for spayed and neutered dogs and $10 for dogs not spayed or neutered, according to the ordinance.

“I just want to tell people how fast we can get their dog found (with a city license tag). It’s just a public service to the community, we don’t make a penny on it,” Barnett said.

A total of 151 dogs were licensed in 2009 and 26 dogs have been licensed in 2010, according to police chief Terry Luker.

Country View Animal Care will be holding a rabies vaccination clinic at the Decatur Fire Department from 4 to 5:30 p.m., March 31, as part of the Benton County Rabies Clinic Week.

Country View Animal Care and the Gentry Veterinarian Clinic are among a number of Benton County veterinarians that are partnering with the Arkansas Department of Health to provide reduced-rate vaccinations for dogs and cats from March 27 through April 3, according to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Health.

It is Arkansas state law to have dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, the release states. New rules for the Rabies Control Act went into effect in January. Under the new law, all cats and dogs over four months of age will be required to have a rabies vaccine. The pets should be given a booster vaccine one year after their initial vaccination, but after that owners can opt to have either a vaccine that is effective for one year, or a new type of vaccine that is effective for three years, the release said.

All warm-blooded animals, including humans and pets, can be infected by the deadly virus by coming in contact with a rabid animal’s saliva, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Animals such as bats, skunks, foxes, coyotes and raccoons are an especially high risk for spreading the disease.

Country View Animal Care will also be offering rabies vaccinations at the Sulphur Springs Park from 4 to 5:30 p.m., April 1, the Maysville Community Center from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., April 3, and at their clinic in Gravette during the week of March 27 through April 3.

The Gentry Veterinarian Clinic will be offering vaccinations for a reduced rate at their clinic between March 27 and April 3, according to the press release.

For more information, call the Arkansas Department of Health at 271-1055 ext. 4, Country View Animal Care at 787-6284, or the Gentry Veterinarian Clinic at 736-2354.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/17/2010