Recently, the Savannah rabies endemic has come to the attention of Savannah locals. To help alleviate the concerns of the public and serve the needs of the pet-owning community, The Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Animal Control Unit on Sallie Mood Drive offered low-cost rabies shots this past Saturday. “We hope to get everyone to know we’re here.” said Christina Sutherin, the Animal Control Officer of the Animal Control Unit. “And, of course, we want to get as many animals at Chatham county vaccinated.” This past Saturday was the first rabies clinic offered this year. Inoculations were available for six dollars for dogs and cats. “If people get anything out of this, I want them to get the importance of [the disease] from the rabies clinic,” added Dr. Martin, the Animal Control Unit’s contracted veterinarian. Rabies is not always obvious. When people think of rabies, they can instantly imagine the foaming mouth and bewildered eyes, yet sometimes the effects are only seen much later, after the virus has incubated. “Viruses are contracted in the system and can incubate for forty-five days before showing symptoms,” said Dr. Martin. “Like the flu in humans.” As a result of the endemic and its current publicity, the law regarding mandatory vaccination of all owned animals, inside and outside pets, is in strong effect. People from all over Chatham drove to Sallie Mood Drive to vaccinate and protect their loved ones and protect their pocketbooks. The cost of not vaccinating one’s pet can be pretty steep. If an unvaccinated pet bites a human, the animal will be held in quarantine at The Savannah Chatham Animal Control Unit for ten days at the owner’s expense. The cost can range from two hundred to two hundred fifty dollars. “The rabies vaccine has been shown to be effective for up to four or five years,” said Dr. Martin. “Because of the threat of the endemic and the press, animals must be vaccinated every year. When the press dies down, it may go back to four or five.” SCAD students should exercise caution to stray furry friends, but don’t go as far as closing the doors on them. The good news is that feral cats have been wrongly accused of starting this endemic. True they have furthered it along, but raccoons and bats are the true cause. “Cats are not the natural carriers for rabies,” expressed Dr. Martin. “Just use common sense. If you’re a trapper, learn how to trap.” The Savannah Chatham Animal Control Unit is the most affected by the endemic because of the volume of animals that they accept. “We are the catch-all,” said Christina Sutherin. “We do the whole gambit. The Humane Society does charge a fee to hold pets for owners who can no longer care for their animal, so in those situations we are happy to help.”
