Pet owners heeded the call to protect their dogs and cats against rabies when 140 animals were vaccinated against this deadly disease on Friday.

This as Empangeni SPCA held a free rabies outreach clinic on the grass opposite the Zululand Observer offices on Friday afternoon.

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The SPCA is planning to hold another rabies outreach later in the year.

Vaccinating pets against rabies is required by law, and is done for free by the SPCA.

The licensing of pets, which are available to purchase from the SPCA, is required under the municipality’s by-laws.

Latest rabies stats

As issued by the Rabies Awareness Body in eShowe over the weekend, the rabies stats for KZN covering the period 9 January – 13 February are as follows:

1. 2 x canine, Paddock, Ray Nkonyeni, Ugu
3. Goat, uMbumbulu, eThekwini Metro
4. Canine, Chatsworth, eThekwini Metro
5. Canine, Inanda, eThekwini Metro
6. Canine, uMhlathuze, King Cetshwayo District

If bitten or scratched by suspected rabid animal:

1. Wash any scratches or wounds with running water and soap for 10 minutes.

2. Get to a doctor or hospital for a course of four vaccinations. If the doctor or clinic is unsure of the treatment protocol, there is a rabies hotline for health professionals that they can call (accessible only by medical professionals).

If you have a bite or scratch with broken skin, and are previously unvaccinated, it is essential to get injections of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) into the wound in addition to vaccine.

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