Associate Veterinary Clinics (AVC) and St. Matthew’s House are offering a free rabies vaccination clinic for pets of St. Matthew’s House clients and of families in need in the Hamilton area on Wednesday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s House - 414 Barton Street E., Hamilton.
The clinic has been prompted by the outbreak of rabies in Ontario with the latest numbers from the Ontario government listing 108 cases of raccoon strain and 2 cases of fox strain rabies since December 2015.
Most all of the raccoon strain rabies have been found in the Hamilton area.
“The rabies outbreak in the Hamilton area continues to be a concern, and we want to do everything we can to help reduce the risk to pets and people while keeping the whole family safe.” says Jen Danyliw, Senior Regional Operations Director, Ontario, for Associate Veterinary Clinics. “This free rabies vaccination clinic is being supported by our veterinary hospitals in the area in collaboration with St. Matthews’s House. We will also have support on site from other human and veterinary health agencies and our industry partners.”
“Vaccinating your pet against rabies is an important part of rabies prevention for both pets and the people they live and interact with. It is especially important for all dogs and cats living in the Hamilton area, even those that are strictly indoor pets, to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies considering the recent outbreak of rabies virus in the area”, adds Kristina Cooper, RVT, Provincial Manager, OAVT Public Health Rabies Response Program.
Public health legislation requires that all pet owners in the province vaccinate their animals against rabies.
This free program will make vaccines more accessible to people in need - in this instance the clients of St. Matthew’s House and their families.
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