Dr. Noble said not vaccinating pets causes a real health hazard
Dr. Noble meets pets in the parking lot at Pollard-McCaall Jr. High School
Dr. Nobel delivers rabies shot inside the vehicle
Just waiting for my shot
Brewton Veterinarian Dr. Hal Noble administered more than 300 rabies vaccines to dogs and cats across the county Saturday during the annual rabies clinic.
Dr. Noble, a veterinarian at Brewton Animal Hospital, serves as Escambia County's rabies inspector, and makes the clinic accessible and affordable for pet owners across the county. The cost of the rabies vaccine this past Saturday was $14.
"It's really important to have your pets vaccinated," Dr. Noble said,. "especially after a rabid fox was found in Atmore."
According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, an Atmore woman was attacked by a fox several weeks ago and the fox tested positive for rabies.
Dr. Dee W. Jones, state public health veterinarian, said while attacks from wild animals are uncommon, they do happen and she stressed the importance of having dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies.
"Although attacks such as this by rabid wildlife are rather uncommon, it highlights the risk rabies continues and hopefully reminds people to be aware of the risks and continue to vaccinate their pets," Dr. Jones said.
Dr. Noble and Dr. Jones said a human who gets rabies can be fatal, if not treated immediately.
In Alabama it is illegal to own a dog, cat for ferret more than 3 months old that has not been vaccinated against rabies.
"There's no cure for it," Dr. Noble said. "It's 100 percent fatal."
Dr. Noble agreed that the exposure from wild animals is rare, but added pets bitten by a rabid animal, who in turn bite a human, is more prevalent.
"Having your pet vaccinated against rabies is as important as giving them food and water," Dr. Noble said.
He said he's recently seen an increase in animal bites, whether provoked or unprovoked. He said all bite victims who go to the doctor's office or emergency room are reported to the department of health, which will follow up with the pet owner.
If the pet has been vaccinated it will likely be required to be quarantined at home. However, if the pet is not vaccinated, it will be required to be quarantined at a veterinarian's office, which Dr. Noble said could be costly.
He noted he has a cat under quarantine currently.
"It's a public health issue," Dr. Noble said.
He said in Alabama, the main carriers of rabies include raccoons, foxes, bats and skunks.
The Alabama Department of Health recommends not allowing pets to run free and keeping them confined within a fenced in yard or letting them out on a leash.
"Cats are more curious and normally allowed to roam," Dr. Noble said. "They see a raccoon and they are curious and will check it out. If bitten, the cat may get rabies."
Dr. Noble also recommended that horses get vaccinated against rabies noting if the horse is bitten by a rabid animal, the disease can be passed to humans by making contact with the horse's head and nostrils.
