Health unit clamps down on rabies non-compliance
A vial of rabies vaccine. Tracey Richardson/Owen South Sun Times/Postmedia Network file photo
Not enough people are immunizing their cats and dogs against rabies, and the local health unit is teaming up with veterinarians to help change that.
In January, the Grey Bruce Health Unit and the Grey Bruce Veterinary Association will unveil an awareness campaign to try and boost vaccination numbers. If that doesn't work, the health unit is prepared to crack down on those who don't vaccinate their pets.
Provincial law requires owners of domestic pets to vaccinate them against rabies, which can be deadly to the animal and to humans. If your pet is involved in a biting incident and it hasn't been vaccinated, you can be fined $105.
Each year the local health unit investigates about 500 incidents of a person being bitten by a cat or dog, and occasionally by wildlife. Based on those investigations, the health unit found that in 2003-04, about 73% of the cats and dogs involved had been immunized. This year's numbers are less than 50%.
“There does seem to be a declining incidents in the number of people getting their pets vaccinated,” said health unit program manager Bob Hart.
When someone is bitten by a cat or dog, the health unit tries to track down the owner to confirm whether the pet has been vaccinated. If it hasn't, the bite victim may have to undergo treatment for rabies as a precaution.
“We have no jurisdiction to compel you to have rabies shots, but we would tell you what the provincial standards and policies are, talk a little about what the potential risks are, and then the patient or victim in consultation with their doctor would make the decision of whether they are going to do that or not,” Hart said.
“It's a pretty unpleasant and inconvenient process,” he said. Ten to 20 people in the area each year have to undergo the treatment.
After an incident, the pet is required to be quarantined at home for 10 days, where they are kept away from other animals and people and monitored to see if they begin to show any rabies symptoms.
Beginning in the new year, each month health inspectors will randomly select notification reports for immunization non-compliance and follow up to see if the owner has complied. If not, charges will be laid.
This year, only one pet owner was fined, but Hart expects that number to increase.
“I would expect that more charges will be laid as a result of this, because we'll be doing the (random) followup, and I think what will happen is we'll find people who haven't or for whatever reason maybe refuse to have their animal immunized. What that number will be, I don't know. But we'll see as it plays itself out in the new year.”
Enforcement is just one tool, he said, but awareness will also be a key component.
The health unit is printing bookmarks containing a rabies message and will distribute them to vet clinics and pet retail stores.
Dr. Sally Parks of the Grey Bruce Veterinary Association said there is a “certain subsection” of people who don't keep their pets' shots up to date.
Some, for instance, think indoor cats don't need to be immunized. But they do, she said. Rabies in bats is on the rise, she said, “and how do you know you're not going to have a bat in your house?”
Parks said it costs from about $55 to $100 to bring your pet in for a rabies shot. This includes an office exam, because vets are not allowed to give the vaccine without giving the animal a full physical first, she said.
If it's a financial hardship, “most veterinarians will work with clients” to find a solution, she said.
She noted that riding and stable horses also must be vaccinated.
The health unit and vet association advise people to stay away from wild and stray animals and to keep pets from roaming free.
For more information about rabies, visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources website.