HANOVER COUNTY -
Here's the news release from Hanover County:
RABIES INCIDENTS ARE INCREASING IN HANOVER; ALL DOGS AND CATS MUST BE VACCINATED
Rabies incidents in Hanover County continue to rise. The current total for this year is 24, on pace to exceed the 26 cases from last year. Of those 24 in 2009, four involve domestic cats.
More than 20 people have had to get expensive rabies shots this year after being exposed to rabid cats. Don't handle stray cats, which are often not vaccinated and can carry the deadly disease.
"A stray cat may be cute but it can also be carrying rabies," reminds Kevin M. Kilgore, Hanover Animal Control Chief. "If it bites you and runs off so that we can't test it, you will be faced with getting rabies treatments, which can cost thousands of dollars."
Feral animals with rabies have been found in multiple parts of Hanover County, from Beaverdam to Black Creek.
All dogs and cats (including so-called 'barn cats') are required by law to be vaccinated at four months of age. You also must have tags and a valid license proving the vaccination.
Hanover Animal Control makes it easy for people to get their pets vaccinated by holding rabies vaccination clinics throughout the fall and winter. Vaccines will be administered at a cost of $7 per dog or cat, significantly less than you would pay normally when taking your pet to the veterinarian for a shot.
The clinics will be held: Saturday, Oct. 24, at the West Hanover Rescue Squad. The West Hanover Rescue Squad building is located at 17005 Beaverdam Road in Montpelier. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.
Saturday, Nov. 7, at Gander Mountain, 10150 Lakeridge Parkway. This clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Company. The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Company is located at 7161 Stonewall Parkway.
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hanover Parks & Recreation office at the Taylor Complex on Route 54 between Ashland and Hanover Courthouse.
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, from 1-4 p.m. at the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad, located at 8105 Walnut Grove Road in Mechanicsville.
Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Gander Mountain from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hanover: People, Tradition and Spirit
The veterinarian will administer the shots at your vehicle without you having to bring your pet inside.
There have been more than 80 cases of animal rabies in Hanover County in the last three years, far more than had been normal in the previous decade. If you see any animal that is acting strangely or appears sick, report it immediately to Hanover County Animal Control. The emergency phone number is 365-6140 (or 911).
For more information about rabies or the upcoming rabies vaccination clinics in Hanover County, call Animal Control at 365-6485.
The Virginia Department of Health also has information about rabies at this web site address: http://www.vdh/state.va.us/Epidemiology/factsheets/Rabies.htm
RABIES INCIDENTS ARE INCREASING IN HANOVER; ALL DOGS AND CATS MUST BE VACCINATED
Rabies incidents in Hanover County continue to rise. The current total for this year is 24, on pace to exceed the 26 cases from last year. Of those 24 in 2009, four involve domestic cats.
More than 20 people have had to get expensive rabies shots this year after being exposed to rabid cats. Don't handle stray cats, which are often not vaccinated and can carry the deadly disease.
"A stray cat may be cute but it can also be carrying rabies," reminds Kevin M. Kilgore, Hanover Animal Control Chief. "If it bites you and runs off so that we can't test it, you will be faced with getting rabies treatments, which can cost thousands of dollars."
Feral animals with rabies have been found in multiple parts of Hanover County, from Beaverdam to Black Creek.
All dogs and cats (including so-called 'barn cats') are required by law to be vaccinated at four months of age. You also must have tags and a valid license proving the vaccination.
Hanover Animal Control makes it easy for people to get their pets vaccinated by holding rabies vaccination clinics throughout the fall and winter. Vaccines will be administered at a cost of $7 per dog or cat, significantly less than you would pay normally when taking your pet to the veterinarian for a shot.
The clinics will be held: Saturday, Oct. 24, at the West Hanover Rescue Squad. The West Hanover Rescue Squad building is located at 17005 Beaverdam Road in Montpelier. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.
Saturday, Nov. 7, at Gander Mountain, 10150 Lakeridge Parkway. This clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Company. The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Company is located at 7161 Stonewall Parkway.
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hanover Parks & Recreation office at the Taylor Complex on Route 54 between Ashland and Hanover Courthouse.
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, from 1-4 p.m. at the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad, located at 8105 Walnut Grove Road in Mechanicsville.
Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Gander Mountain from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hanover: People, Tradition and Spirit
The veterinarian will administer the shots at your vehicle without you having to bring your pet inside.
There have been more than 80 cases of animal rabies in Hanover County in the last three years, far more than had been normal in the previous decade. If you see any animal that is acting strangely or appears sick, report it immediately to Hanover County Animal Control. The emergency phone number is 365-6140 (or 911).
For more information about rabies or the upcoming rabies vaccination clinics in Hanover County, call Animal Control at 365-6485.
The Virginia Department of Health also has information about rabies at this web site address: http://www.vdh/state.va.us/Epidemiology/factsheets/Rabies.htm
