2013 Annual Dog Clinic to Take Place in Holly

The 2013 Annual Dog Clinic will take place at Fell’s Vet Clinic on Saturday, February 16, 2013, from 9:00am to noon.

In order to extend maximum coverage in an area of high rabies incidence, Dr. Fell will continue using the Ft. Dodge Rab Vac 3.  Ft. Dodge Pharmaceutical Company validates the vaccine effective for defense against rabies for three years.  Dr. Fell recommends that dogs under one year of age receive an initial dose at three months and then another booster one year later.  All other felines and canines in this high incidence area receive the Rab Vac 3 every other year.

Research confirms no adverse effects noted when a three year vaccination is given on an annual basis.  Each pet owner can decide which protocol is best for their pet within these guidelines.  Town of Holly Ordinance 428 requires that licensing of all dogs within town limits must occur by March 1 each year.  To obtain a license, current vaccination records need to be presented to the Clerk’s office when tags are purchased.

Dog owners residing outside town limits are also encouraged to vaccinate their pets as a further deterrence to the spread of rabies in this high occurrence area of the state.

Why are dog tags/licenses a requirement of the town?
Licensing proves inoculation of pets against the ravies virus thereby protecting our human and pet population from contracting rabies.  Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals.  The disease can be transmitted from one species to another.  For humans, rabies is almost invariably fatal if treatment is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms.  Holly is located in a high rabies incident area – please be a responsible pet owner and inoculate, license, and tag by the March 1 deadline.