Rabies Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats
The Arkansas City Police Department has found that citizens have been getting some confusing information about rabies vaccinations for pets within the city limits. It is our hopes that this press release can clear up some of that confusion.
What’s the law?
Arkansas City requires that all cats and dogs in the city limits be vaccinated for Rabies prevention. City Ordinance requires all cats and dogs receive their first rabies shot by 4 months of age. This includes indoor as well as outdoor pets. The fine for NOT having your pet vaccinated is $40 plus $71 for court cost totaling $111 for not being in compliance with city ordinance for Vaccinations of cats and dogs. The City has also passed an ordinance for Rabies Vaccination tags to be worn by pets at all times. This is also a means for Animal Control to identify the pets within the city limits rather than installing a separate mandatory city license. Remember, when Animal Control Officers or Patrol Officers ask for Rabies Vaccination proof, it is the owners responsibility to produce documentation verifying the date the vaccination was administered and the expiration date of the vaccination. This is to prove the vaccination is current at time of request. The request can be made at any time with or without a bite occurring. It is required by city ordinance that if no documentation is produced at time of request you may receive a citation for that offense. If the owner of the animal finds the vaccination proof at a later date, or acquires proof from his or her veterinarian, he or she can contact Animal Control the next day with the proof and the ticket will be dismissed.
Why is the rabies vaccination needed?
Rabies is transmitted through saliva of the infected animal. Bites or Scratches that puncture human or animal skin are the most likely way to the condition is past from the host to another animal or human. However, contact of infected saliva with eyes, nose, or mouth can technically pass on the virus. This way of transfer is very rare, but still possible. More than 30,000 people in the U. S. undergo treatment for possible rabies exposure each year.
Cats, Dogs, and cattle account for 90% of rabies cases reported in domestic animals. The other 10% of cases are made up by horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine and ferrets. Wild animals topping the list are Skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. In 1955 2,700 rabies cases in dogs were reported to authorities. By 1988 the cases reported had fallen to 128 in dogs. Showing us the Rabies Vaccination programs required in cities helped in the control of this potentially fatal virus. However, in 1988 the cases for cats were at 192 cases surpassing the number of dog cases. This change in rabies cases reported was attributed to the fact that there were more cats now and that roam at large and more often than dogs. Statistics show the rabies in domestic animals is far less than decades ago when no vaccinations were required by law. Still, rabies is a serious concern for humans and UN- vaccinated domestic animals that may get exposed by wild animals. We never know when an affected animal can wander into our city and end up exposing a pet or person while here.
Bear in mind that to vaccinate your pets requires only a single shot for each animal once every year (required by Arkansas City Ordinance). People exposed to rabies by bite scratch or other means would have to undergo a series of 5 injections following the exposure. Please make sure you are a responsible pet owner by keeping your Cats and dogs vaccinations up to date.
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