CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. -- The Catawba County Animal Care and Control Office will conduct its annual series of rabies vaccination clinics, beginning Tuesday, April 5, 2005. These clinics remain very important because Catawba County has had more than eighty confirmed cases of rabies in wild animals since February 1999 and, in some of these cases, pets were affected. Clinics will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Tuesday, April 5 through Thursday, April 28. Vaccinations will cost $7 each this year, an increase from the fee the County charged for the past ten years. The fee increase was necessary to fully recoup the administrative costs for the veterinarians who are administering the vaccinations.

"North Carolina law says that, in all counties where a campaign of vaccination is being conducted, it is the duty of the owner of every dog and cat over four months of age to have them vaccinated for rabies every three years," said Irene Phipps-Ruff, Catawba County's Chief Animal Care and Control Officer. "Pet owners face a $25 fine if they do not have pets vaccinated and place tags showing proof of the vaccination on the pet's collar or chain. The law also says that a licensed veterinarian must administer rabies vaccinations. Our clinics will be administered by a team of ten veterinarians practicing across the county."

Rabies vaccination clinics have taken on a greater importance since February 1999, when Catawba County had its first confirmed case of rabies in more than 43 years. We've had more than 1900 pets vaccinated during our clinics over each of the last four years. Many of our citizens realize that one of the best ways to protect pets from rabies is to make sure they are properly immunized," Phipps-Ruff added.

Rabies is a very dangerous disease that infects only mammals and is spread by infected animals through bites or scratches. While it is mainly carried by wild animals, any pets that aren't't vaccinated are at great risk should they come in contact with an infected animal. Rabies is a virus which attacks the central nervous system and, if left untreated, it is always fatal. That's why it's so important that pet owners across Catawba County take advantage of these annual rabies vaccination clinics.

Pet owners should bring proof of when his or her pet last got a three-year rabies shot to the clinic of their choice, or the pet will receive a one-year booster shot.

The schedule of clinics has been reduced from years past, following a study of the use of past clinics. Clinics that were previously held on Monday and Friday evenings were not heavily attended.

"The new schedule of clinics will still bring at least one clinic close to every citizen in the county and be a more efficient use of the time of veterinarians and staff of the Catawba County Animal Care and Control Department," Phipps-Ruff said.

The following is the schedule for the clinics: Tuesday, April 5, 5:30 PM Bandys High School Dr. Whitener Wednesday, April 6, 5:30 PM Mtn. View Elementary School Dr. Hill Thursday, April 7, 5:30 PM Catawba County Animal Shelter Dr. Whitener Tuesday, April 12, 5:30 PM Maiden Town Hall Dr. Simmons Wednesday, April 13, 5:30 PM St. Stephens Elementary School Dr. Pope Thursday, April 14, 5:30 PM Caldwell TV Dr. Robinson Tuesday April 19, 5:30 PM Conover Post Office Dr. Bumbarger Wednesday April 20, 5:30 PM South Newton Elementary School Dr. Carlton Thursday, April 21, 5:30 PM Oxford Elementary School Dr. Barlow Tuesday April 26, 5:30 PM Clyde Campbell Elementary School Dr. Peeples Wednesday April 27, 5:30 PM Catawba County Animal Shelter Dr. Boston Thursday, April 28, 5:30 PM Broyhill Park (North Newton) Dr. Robinson

A brochure is available which also lists the clinic schedule and other details. You may request a copy, or specific information about the clinics, by calling the County Animal Shelter at 464-7686.