Vaccinate your pets against rabies

The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs encourages pet owners to ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies.

This year’s World Rabies Month theme is “One Health, Zero Deaths”. Rabies is deadly, and can be fatal to humans as well. It is found in many species of wildlife, and can be passed from any infected animal to another, mostly through biting, though scratches pose a small possibility of transmission.

Rabies gets transmitted to humans almost entirely through bites from infected dogs and cats. The disease is incurable, but the good news, though, is that rabies is preventable, and the best way to protect yourself and your pets is by vaccinating your dogs and cats.

The department has cautioned the public to be aware of the following signs:

• Aggression
• Excessive salivation and difficulty swallowing
• Paralysis (legs, jaw, etc)
• Change in behaviour or staggering
• Fever.

If you see any of these signs, please report to the nearest state veterinarian, animal health technician or private vet. If your pet has bitten or scratched you, seek immediate attention.

Rabies vaccination season is held annually during the month of September, during which World Rabies Vaccination Day falls on the 28th. The day is aimed at raising awareness about the impact of rabies on both humans and animals, and how to eliminate the zoonotic disease.

During September, the Veterinary Services officials from the department go all out to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies. Pet owners are encouraged to visit a state vet office closer to them to have their pets vaccinated.

September is also Arbor Month. Plant a tree for a brighter future!

South Africa celebrates Arbor Week on September 1 annually, and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs encourages the public to use this month to plant indigenous trees as a practical and symbolic gesture of sustainable environmental management.

The department encourages the public to be consciously aware of the importance of greening urban areas, townships and informal settlements, because trees are of great value as they provide soil protection, fruit, shade and building materials.

An example of an incredible proudly South African plant is the spekboom, which provides so many benefits. Not only is it a great example of a plant we can use to combat climate change, it does not require a lot of water to grow and it can survive the harshest weather conditions while improving the air that we breathe. Plant a tree today!