Rabies Requirements

Recently we have had a few inquiries about Rabies Vaccination for our pets.  We would like to clear up a few things.

We at Cranberry Hill will always require that our patients have a current rabies vaccine in order to protect our staff, in case they are bitten by an uncooperative pet.  If you do not wish us to vaccinate your pet for Rabies then you will be denied service at our practice.

Rabies vaccines are not given to pets to protect the animal; they are given to protect humans.  Public health departments, the agencies that determine rabies vaccine protocols, are only concerned about the welfare of humans, hence all of the regulations regarding rabies vaccines, especially in dogs.

There is no legal requirement for veterinary practices to force you to vaccinate your pets for Rabies. HOWEVER veterinary clinics do have the right to deny services to unvaccinated animals in order to protect the health of employees.

We have had many clients report that their pets never go outside so chances of being exposed to a rabid animal is zero.  This is an incorrect assumption.  There have been written articles about bats flying into homes and biting unvaccinated pets.  The bats have then been found to be rabid.  Your pet may not go outside but wildlife does come in without permission.

Controlling the spread of rabies is a shared responsibility of the public, the veterinary profession, public health departments, wildlife departments and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The public can help reduce the spread of rabies through responsible vaccination of pets, as well as informing authorities when an animal is suspected of having the disease.  Keeping pets under control, teaching children not to play with wild animals or pets they don’t know, keeping a safe distance from wildlife and not trying to raise orphaned or injured wildlife all contribute to preventing rabies.