7/14/13 - People and pets are spending more time outside now that warm weather has arrived, but local health and animal officials are cautioning residents about the increased risk of rabies that comes with the season. Animal Control Director Debbie Oberle says bats are the biggest carriers of rabies, with 4-5% of the bats sent in for testing coming back positive for the disease. Coming into contact with bats is rare, but becomes more common for humans and animals in the summer when there is an increase in outdoor activities, especially those that occur around sundown. Oberle says it is important to get pets vaccinated against rabies because they will interact with bats they find. It can also be difficult to tell if they have been bitten, since the disease can make a pet lethargic rather than aggressive. Oberle tells WHMI that if there is question about whether contact has been made with a bat, the animal should be tested. Their small, sharp teeth make it difficult to tell if a bite has even taken place. The rabies vaccine can be administered by a veterinarian, and Oberle says it typically costs about $20. (TD)
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