Free Rabies Shots at Napa Humane for World Rabies Day, September 27

In honor of World Rabies Day, Napa Humane is offering free rabies vaccinations for Napa County’s dogs and cats on Friday, Sep. 27, 2019, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

But Napa Humane does much more than just protect pets on World Rabies Day. For more than a decade, Napa Humane has offered a drop-in, low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic, keeping Napa’s pets protected against the most dangerous preventable diseases.  In 2018 Napa Humane protected 3,421 dogs and cats against rabies, and to date in 2019 has protected 2,816 pets and counting.

Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system that kills both animals and humans. Worldwide, more than 55,000 people die every year from rabies, and children are often at highest risk. World Rabies Day began in 2007 to raise awareness about the impact of this potentially deadly virus, and how easy it is to prevent it.

 Rabies is transmitted by the saliva of infected mammals, typically through bites or licking of open wounds or mucous membranes (like the mouth). In Napa County, wild bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and unvaccinated dogs and cats are the most likely carriers of the disease. Some wild animals infected with rabies may seem tame and come into houses, while rabid dogs may show aggression and try to attack other animals, cars, fences and people. They may also salivate excessively, and show paralysis of the lower jaw or hind legs.

Once symptoms begin, there is no cure. Napa Humane strongly encourages all pet owners to vaccinate their pets regularly against rabies, and to keep them away from wild animals at all times.

If you think that you or your pet may have been exposed to an animal of unknown vaccination status, wash any bite wounds with soap and water, and consult a doctor or veterinarian immediately. A series of post-exposure immunization injections must be administered as soon as possible to prevent infection. Without this treatment, the disease is fatal.

Keeping pets up to date with their rabies shots is a small but essential part of responsible pet ownership. Rabies threatens our furry friends, our families and our community, but it’s absolutely preventable with a little advance planning.

We are grateful to all those who have made a donation to Napa Humane, ensuring that we are able to provide less-than-cost lifesaving services to the pets in our community!

The photos in this article are just a few of the thousands of pets seen at our weekly vaccination clinic.