Rabies Information

Rabies Requirements

By ordinance, Iredell County requires all cats, dogs and ferrets over 3 months of age to have a current rabies vaccination.

Obtaining a Vaccination

Rabies vaccinations are available during normal Animal Shelter hours for $10 each. No appointment is necessary. Only 1-year vaccinations are administered.

On the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Iredell County Animal Services provides a rabies vaccination clinic from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Animal Shelter. Rabies vaccinations are available for $5 each, CASH ONLY!
If you have proof of a previous rabies vaccine you may be able to receive a 3 year vaccine.

Vaccination Reminders

Remember it takes 28 days from your pet’s first rabies vaccination for your pet to build antibodies to the rabies virus. If your pet is exposed to a rabid animal during the first 28 days after the first rabies vaccination, your pet will be treated as an unvaccinated pet.

Rabies Exposures

The following circumstances are possible rabies exposures:

• Fights with a wild animal (raccoon, skunk, fox, opossum, etc.)
• Fights with a stray animal (dog or cat)
• Fights with an animal that may not be fully vaccinated against rabies
• Plays with or is in contact with a bat or a dead wild animal

Boost After Bite
If your previously vaccinated animal has been exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a proven rabid animal or an animal reasonable suspected of having rabies that is not available for laboratory testing your animal must receive immediate veterinary care with a rabies booster within 96 hours of the exposure and the animal must be placed under observation for 45 days. If your pet is bitten by a suspected rabid animal or reasonably suspected to be exposed to a rabid animal, and does not receive a rabies booster within 96 hours, your pet will be treated as an unvaccinated pet.

Unvaccinated Pets

If the wild or stray animal that bit your pet or reasonably suspected to have exposed your pet is confirmed to be rabid or is not available for testing, an unvaccinated pet must be confined for 4 months, to be determined by the local Health Director, at a veterinarian's office or face euthanasia.

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