Pet owners reminded rabies immunization is mandatory for household pets

All animal bites, scratches must be reported to Health Department

Whitby, Ontario – May is Rabies Awareness Month and Durham Region Health Department is reminding the public that rabies immunization is mandatory for household pets, and all animal bites or scratches involving humans must be reported to the Health Department. Rabies is a preventable disease which is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal; however, once infected with the virus, rabies is fatal for humans and most animals.

“A key component of rabies prevention and control is responsible pet ownership which includes maintaining up to date immunization against rabies for all dogs and cats over three months old; this is required under Ontario Regulation 567/90 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act,” said Shannon Lewis, Manager, Health Protection with the Health Department. “Pet owners can protect their families and pets by ensuring all dogs and cats receive annual immunization against rabies.”

Responsible pet ownership also includes:

• Keeping immunizations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
• Keeping your pets under direct supervision and avoiding contact with wild animals.
• Calling your local animal control agency for instructions on having sick wildlife removed from your neighbourhood.
• Having your pets spayed or neutered to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for, or regularly immunized.
• Reporting all animal-to-human bites and scratches to the Health Department.

To help area residents with rabies immunizations and microchip for pets, two area municipalities will be hosting low-cost rabies clinics:

• Pickering Animal Services clinic on May 4, in partnership with the Millennium City Veterinary Hospital and Durham Region Health Department.
• Oshawa Animal Services on June 22, in partnership with Simcoe Rossland Animal Hospital and Durham Region Health Department.

For details about these events, and other immunization and microchip clinics, visit durham.ca/Rabies. Residents are encouraged to check back regularly for updated clinic dates throughout the year.

If your pet bites or scratches someone, this must be reported to the Health Department. Anyone who has had a rabies exposure – which could include a bite, scratch, or contact with the saliva of an infected animal – or who has information on a potential rabies exposure, should immediately report the incident to the Health Department at 1-800-841-2729 or by using the online form. Children should report animal bites or scratches to their parents/guardians and parents/guardians should contact the Health Department.

Rabies is also present in wildlife population and associated with foxes, skunks, bats, and raccoons; between 2019 and 2023, three bats tested positive for rabies in Durham Region. The following precautions are recommended to help avoid potential exposure to rabies from wild animals:

• Avoid contact with all wild animals, especially bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons.
• Keep children away from wild animals.
• Keep pets away from wild animals; pets should be kept indoors at night or should be supervised when outside.
• Avoid contact with dead or sick wildlife and do not attempt to care for these animals. Contact your local animal service and ask for assistance.

For more information about rabies, please visit durham.ca/Rabies or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905- 668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.