World Rabies Day
World Rabies Day is September 28th — are your furry friends up to date on their vaccinations?
According to the Center for Disease Control: “The number of human rabies deaths in the United States attributed to rabies has been steadily declining since the 1970’s thanks to animal control and vaccination programs, successful outreach programs, and the availability of modern rabies biologics. Dog rabies vaccination programs have halted the natural spread of rabies among domestic dogs, which are no longer considered a rabies reservoir in the United States. Nonetheless, each year between 60 to 70 dogs and more than 250 cats are reported rabid. Nearly all these animals were unvaccinated and became infected from rabid wildlife (such as bats, raccoons, and skunks.)”1
September 28th may be World Rabies Day, but the work that PWNA’s Reservation Animal Rescue (RAR) program’s Animal Welfare service supports happens every day to ensure the health and safety of tribal communities in the Northern Plains and Southwest United States.
We are fortunate to work with 16 Program Partners in 9 different reservations throughout our service area that have a high rate of stray and homeless animals. Our partners are working 24/7 to ensure the safety of humans and livestock while rescuing animals needing foster care, resocializing and rehoming. RAR provides more than just food and supplies for partners, but also provides grants to support clinics and veterinary care that consumes much of their limited budgets.
Vaccinating your pets could save their life — and yours.
In one quarter alone, RAR’s support to five grant partners helped to vaccinate over 300 animals. With this same funding over 50 animals were spayed and neutered, and over 200 animals received parasite treatment. Preparing animals for forever homes goes beyond the re-socializing and re-habbing. One grant supported a partner’s first vaccination clinic. They expended 20% of their funding to serve 170 animals for vaccination and parasite treatments. The contacts they made with the human companions were invaluable as it would make outreach efforts in their communities easier in the future. The owners could then follow up with boosters and spay/neuter opportunities.
Tina, our partner for Wolf Point Pound Puppies Animal Rescue serving the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana, explained the importance of getting adults and pups immunized. She said, “The adults dogs haven’t been vaccinated, so they are passing on their lack of immunity to their offspring, these puppies are born with little or no immunities and can’t get much from the mom as she also hasn’t been vaccinated.”
The good news from the clinic: “We’re seeing more and more dogs with collars (and tags) and this is a good sign.”
Check out our Facebook and Instagram today and share to help us spread the word about how important rabies vaccinations and your support of RAR’s services are. Thank you for your support!
1 https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/human_rabies.html