Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods
November 7, 2016
Public Advisory: Labrador Residents Encouraged to Vaccinate Their Pets
The Provincial Government and Labrador-Grenfell Health are encouraging pet owners in Labrador to vaccinate their pets to help protect animals and humans against the threat of rabies.
People can have their dogs and cats vaccinated through local veterinary clinics. In areas where private veterinary services are not available, such as on the North Coast of Labrador, Nunatsiavut public health nurses offer free rabies vaccine for pets.
Rabies is common in wild animals in Labrador and goes through cycles with the last significant outbreak in spring 2012. A well vaccinated population of domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, keep people and animals safe from rabies, by providing a barrier between wild animals and people.
Rabies is spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Any wild animal, unvaccinated dogs and cats can be infected. Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal with unknown vaccination status should wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention at a clinic or emergency department.
Animals infected with rabies cannot be identified by sight; however, animals in the final stages of the disease often act strangely or cannot move properly. Any unusual behaviour in wild or domestic animals should be reported to conservation officers, wildlife enforcement officers, veterinarians, police or public health officials.
The Provincial Government has rabies education information available at: www.faa.gov.nl.ca/agrifoods/animals/health/rabies.html
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Media contacts:
|
Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods 709-729-3733, 682-6593 VanessaColmanSadd@gov.nl.ca |
Allan Bock Regional Director of Communications Labrador-Grenfell Health 709-897-2351, 899-1568 allan.bock@lghealth.ca |
2016 11 07 10:10 a.m.