According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 250 cats and up to 70 dogs in the United States are reported rabid each year – and almost all of them are unvaccinated. Animal Welfare Association (AWA) recognizes the importance of rabies awareness and offers regular Vaccine Clinics to help protect domestic animals against preventable diseases like rabies.
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system that is usually transmitted by a bite from an infected animal. There is no treatment for rabies after symptoms appear and the virus can result in a pet’s death within weeks.
“Fortunately, we have vaccines to prevent our pets from contracting rabies,” says Maya Richmond, executive director at AWA. “To do our part AWA offers Vaccination Clinics where healthy pets can receive their core vaccines and routine tests.”
The Vaccine Clinic at AWA offers a one-year rabies vaccine without proof of previous vaccination and a three-year rabies vaccine with a certificate as proof of previous vaccination. Other vaccinations offered at AWA’s Vaccine Clinics include the Lyme, bordetella, leptospirosis and distemper vaccines.
In the upcoming future, AWA will offer vaccine clinics on Monday, Sept. 27, Tuesday, Sept. 28 and on Saturdays Oct. 2 and Oct. 16 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Monday & Tuesday clinics are appointment only, but walk-ins are welcome at the upcoming Saturday clinics.
For more information on rabies awareness or to make an appointment for a Vaccine Clinic, visit awanj.org/pet-wellness-vaccine-days or call 856-424-2288.
