PET owners in Ward 64 were relieved when the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted a free rabies vaccination drive from September 1-3.

Also read: Expand your knowledge on rabies

The drive saw 400 pets receive the jab over the three-day campaign.

Queen Duma, a departmental health technician under the Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Services Directorate, emphasised the dangers of rabies. 

“Rabies disease is often a highly contagious and fatal/deadly zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to both animals and humans through bites or sometimes scratches from infected animals. It’s therefore required by the state law that all pets (except puppies below three months, as they receive passive immunity from their mother) should be vaccinated against rabies so that if the pet is ever bitten by a rabid animal they won’t get rabies; if the pet can’t get it, they are spared a painful death and cannot transmit it to other animals and their people including their owners and neighbourhood community,” she said.

Duma added during the latest vaccination drive they had vaccinated 369 dogs and 31 cats. 

She also expressed her gratitude to the community for adhering to their call and getting their pets vaccinated.

The vaccination drive forms part of the department’s efforts to raise awareness and prevent deaths from this potentially fatal disease.

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