3/28/2011
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass is urging residents to have their pets vaccinated against rabies and to consider vaccinating valuable livestock against the disease, which is widespread throughout much of the Mountain State.
State law currently requires dog and cat owners to vaccinate their pets every three years. Effective June 2010, a person who owns or possesses a dog or cat within the state of West Virginia shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine capable of producing immunity for three years, boostered one year after initial vaccination and every third year thereafter. Dogs and cats need not be vaccinated before the age of three months, but must be vaccinated by the age of six months.
“Rabies vaccination is a simple and inexpensive safeguard against a common but extremely dangerous disease,” said Commissioner Douglass.
“Rabies is a threat to any warm-blooded animal and the public should be observant of any abnormalities in their farm animals, pets or wildlife. Wild animals that behave in an unusual or aggressive manner should be avoided and reported to the local health department. Livestock with similar symptoms should be seen by a veterinarian immediately,” added Commissioner Douglass.
West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) acting State Veterinarian Jewell Plumley said many people don’t give rabies the respect it deserves.
“People seem to be less fearful of rabies because it’s a familiar disease that has been around for a long time, but it’s not a matter to be taken lightly,” said Dr. Plumley. “Rabies is an extremely dangerous disease to all mammals and is always fatal if left untreated. It is carried by a wide variety of wild animals – especially raccoons, skunks and bats – and those wild animals can infect unvaccinated pets and livestock, which can then transmit the disease to unsuspecting humans.”
Commissioner Douglass noted that approved rabies vaccines are available for cattle, sheep and horses. “Those with valuable animals should definitely consider vaccinating them. A couple of dollars for a vaccination is a small price to pay to protect your investment,” he said.
WVDA has participated in a program in recent years to help slow the westward spread of rabies in raccoons. USDA-Wildlife Service’s Oral Rabies Vaccination program has air-dropped nearly two million vaccine-laden baits throughout West Virginia annually since the program was started here in 2001.
Contact Information
Buddy Davidson, Communications Officer
304-558-3708
bdavidson@ag.state.wv.us