Rabies Vaccinations Available
By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
When people think of Spring they think of parks and picnics. For the Animal Shelter, it means kitten season and more over, increased cases of dog bites, Tucker County Animal Shelter Director Stacey Canfield said.
Canfield said that dog bites have been an issue all winter long and will increase with the warmer weather. There were six cases of dog bites over the winter in Tucker County, according to Canfield. Residents are advised that it is West Virginia law that dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of six months be vaccinated for Rabies. Canfield also said there is also a leash law, as well.
“With warm weather, it doesn’t just bring kitten season, it brings dog bites because people are outside riding their bikes, little kids are outside playing in the park, people are letting their dogs outside to run and play, going on hikes off leashes,” Canfield said. “So you really see an increase in dog bites.”
Canfield said that she can offer residents of Tucker County Rabies Vaccination and Microchipping at the Shelter. Those services are offered year round. The cost of a rabies vaccination at the Shelter is $10 to Tucker County Residents only. The hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Really encouraging people to understand that you’re dog must be vacinated against rabies not just because its State Code, but also because that makes it very extensive. It puts more on the officers, it puts more stress on your dog because that dog has to then come to our crowded facility for 10 days for a bite quarantine. You can cited for failure to vacinate because that is State Code,” Canfield said. “We obviously have a leash law, but for whatever reason your dog is off the leash, it better be vacinated.”
