Make sure you vaccinate your pets
“Pet owners with unvaccinated pets are advised to make an appointment with their local veterinarian, SPCA, or State Veterinary Clinic without further delay.
Too often, pet owners irresponsibly try to cut costs by avoiding their pets’ annual vaccinations.
This is according to the NSPCA’s PRO Keshvi Nair.
Nair explained the risk involved in cutting costs by avoiding vaccination sometimes results in an even greater cost – the loss of human and animal life.
“Vaccinations play an integral role in keeping your pets, family, and community safe from the transmission of fatal zoonotic diseases such as rabies,” she said
She pointed out rabies is an infectious viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and that it can be fatal once symptoms appear.
“There is no cure for humans or animals once infected. In most cases, the disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of a rabid mammal (commonly dogs, cats, and bats) but infection can also spread through scratches or saliva.
“Each year, thousands of people around the globe die from rabies, a disease that is 100% preventable.
According to Nair, there have already been a number of positive cases this year, especially within the KwaZulu-Natal region.
“If pet owners are not going to be responsible, it is likely that this number will increase which will result in the loss of human and animal life.
“In terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No 35 of 1984), owners of dogs and cats must have their pets vaccinated against rabies.
“There is no excuse for not having your pets vaccinated, especially given the fact that state veterinary clinics often offer rabies vaccines to the public free of charge.”
She advised pet owners to ensure their animals are not left to roam the streets and that if they are walking them, they are on a leash.
“When people choose not to vaccinate their pets, not only are they being completely irresponsible but they are also breaking the law. They are risking the lives of their pets and the community at large, as well as the lives of the people who have to handle the infected animals.”
Nair said pet owners and all relevant stakeholders need to work together to achieve the control of rabies.
“It is only through responsible pet ownership, vaccination, and a zero-tolerance approach toward those who break the law regarding vaccination that we can overcome this serious and deadly disease.
“Pet owners with unvaccinated pets are advised to make an appointment with their local veterinarian, SPCA, or state veterinary clinic without further delay.”
Also Read: Keep your loved ones safe from rabies
Also Read: Rabies jab half price at SPCA on September 28
