Rabies campaign going well

LAUNDRY baskets and cardboard boxes doubled as cat carriers yesterday when scores of pet owners took their animals to vaccination points to get their rabies jabs.

The second round of rabies vaccinations in Windhoek was well attended, except at the Maxuilili community centre in Babylon, where only a handful of people turned up with their pets. The Cat Protection Society vaccinated the cat colony living at the Pionierspark cemetery at the start of the campaign and has assured people that cats living there pose no danger to the public.Veterinarians point out that it takes about two weeks after vaccination before an animal is fully protected against rabies.Animals infected before the vaccination can still get sick and die of rabies.The injections are not a cure for infected animals, but a preventative measure.The SPCA has received 20 rabid dogs since the beginning of the month and expect still more to be brought in.A decline in rabies cases will only be noticeable in about four weeks.Pet owners have until tomorrow to get their pets vaccinated free of charge to stop the rabies outbreak.The Cat Protection Society vaccinated the cat colony living at the Pionierspark cemetery at the start of the campaign and has assured people that cats living there pose no danger to the public.Veterinarians point out that it takes about two weeks after vaccination before an animal is fully protected against rabies.Animals infected before the vaccination can still get sick and die of rabies.The injections are not a cure for infected animals, but a preventative measure.The SPCA has received 20 rabid dogs since the beginning of the month and expect still more to be brought in.A decline in rabies cases will only be noticeable in about four weeks.Pet owners have until tomorrow to get their pets vaccinated free of charge to stop the rabies outbreak.