On September 3, the County of Orange Rabies Control Program administered by OC Animal Care staff held its 5th annual Rabies Awareness Event. This event is held each year in observance of World Rabies Day which began to increase community awareness of the disease and its prevention. World Rabies Day is observed on September 28 of each year, and while rabies is a 100% preventable disease, nearly 60,000 people die from the disease around the world each year. OC Animal Care has joined Global Alliance for Rabies Control in their Zero by 30 campaign which aims to end human deaths from dog rabies around the world by 2030. We would like to thank Noble Friends Foundation for providing the funding necessary to make this event a success. With their assistance, 59 dogs and cats received free or discounted rabies vaccinations. In addition to providing rabies vaccinations, Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control was in attendance to help educate attendees on the importance of mosquito abatement. Since the month of September is also National Preparedness Month, OC Animal Care provided emergency preparedness information for pets, including pet evacuation kit handouts, watertight “go-bags”, and collapsible bowls to help pet owners start the planning process. While the United States generally no longer experiences some of the challenges other countries do with respect to rabies control, it’s important for the community to know that rabies is still found in It has been decades since rabies was last found in a domestic dog or cat, however, Orange County does see rabies in wildlife, particularly bats. To date in 2019, there have been 9 rabid bats found in Orange County. If you encounter a wild animal that appears to be ill or acting abnormally, please contact your local animal control agency for assistance.
