| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 2, 2023 | CONTACT: Natasha Young, Public Information Officer PH: 770-531-5679 | Fax: 770-535-5958 |
Protect your pets with a rabies vaccination
FRANKLIN COUNTY – The annual Franklin County $5 rabies vaccine clinics are back! Keeping your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination will prevent them from acquiring the disease from wildlife, and prevent possible transmission to humans.
The Franklin County Health Department, along with Dr. April Steele, D.V.M., Dr. Patrick L. Hitchcock, D.V.M., Dr. Wanda Thompson, D.V.M., will provide $5, one-year rabies vaccines for dogs and cats on Saturday, May 20. Vaccination times will vary based on the location.
According to the CDC, rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. In Franklin County, there have been 3 positive rabies cases in animals in 2023.
Most cases of rabies occur in wildlife, most commonly occurring in raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Cats, dogs, and livestock are vulnerable to getting rabies from exposure to wildlife if they have not received a rabies vaccination or they are not up to date on their vaccination.
Anyone who wishes to get a 3-year rabies vaccine for their pet is encouraged to contact the vet’s office they plan to visit to get pricing and availability. Proof of Franklin County residency is not required. For more information about the importance of rabies vaccines visit phdistrict2.org.
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