Rabies and pet safety Published Sept. 10, 2014 By Capt. Kolleen Nellett U.S. Army Veterinary Corps JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Pets are an important member of many military families. They share their owners' joy in the happy times and provide needed comfort in sad times. However, these pets need our care and one of the best ways to protect your pet from illness is getting them vaccinated. Many vaccines are available for animals but vaccination against rabies is required by law in all states and on every military installation. This is because while rabies disease has been nearly eliminated in domestic animals in the United States due to a strong vaccination program; it is still prevalent in wildlife throughout the United States. This means it can still be transmitted to domestic cats, dogs, and other pet mammals who can then endanger the humans they live with. New Jersey recently had a stray kitten found in a barn in Medford township test positive for rabies. At least 13 people were exposed to the kitten before it died of the disease. People exposed to rabies positive animals must receive preventative treatment for rabies. All pet dogs and cats living on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, including all associated privatized housing, are required to be currently vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccines provide protection for one to three years depending on the age of the animal and the vaccine used. Rabies vaccines must be given by a licensed veterinarian who will then provide a signed certificate of vaccination and a metal tag with the year and county in which the animal was vaccinated. What happens if your pet is not vaccinated or they do not receive boosters when needed? The biggest problems occur when an unvaccinated pet either bites a person or is bitten by a wild or stray animal. When an animal bites a person on the installation, a bite report is generated at the 87th Medical Group, then sent to the staff at the JB MDL Veterinary Treatment Facility. The owner is then contacted to bring in the animal for examination within one duty day of being notified by the veterinary staff. If the animal is current on their rabies vaccine a ten-day home quarantine is sufficient after a physical exam. This means the pet can stay in the house although it is not allowed off the property or to go outside unsupervised for ten days, or until they are re-examined by a veterinarian. However, if the animal is not vaccinated, the treatment facility is required by installation and New Jersey state law to quarantine the animals at a location other than the owner's home. What that means at JB MDL is that the owner will be required to take their pet to one of two animal shelters and pay from $110 to $150 out of pocket for the animal to be quarantined for ten days. If they cannot quarantine the animal, they will need to be euthanized and submitted for testing for the rabies virus as there is no reliable test for rabies before an animal's death. The other situation which can be potentially fatal for an unvaccinated pet is if they are bitten by a wild animal or a stray animal with an unknown vaccination history. In this case, by New Jersey state law, the pet will need to be quarantined for 6 months or euthanized. This is because the rabies virus can take a very long time to reach the brain from wherever on the body the bite occurred. Keeping pets up to date on their rabies vaccination also makes it easier to travel with them. Most states and countries only require proof of rabies vaccination in the form of the signed rabies certificate. However, Hawaii and some countries, like Japan and Korea, also require that a blood test be performed showing that an animal actually has immunity against the rabies virus. This is something you can coordinate with your veterinarian if you are permanently changing station to one of these places. The process is made much simpler if your pet is already current on their rabies vaccination. Rabies is a fatal disease for both animals and humans. Keeping pets vaccinated against rabies protects family health, pet health, and finances. Rabies vaccination at the JB MDL Veterinary Treatment Facility is only $10 in addition to the $27 exam fee. Those with a military issued ID card and qualify for medical benefits from the military, also qualify for wellness care at any US Army veterinary clinic for their pets. Vaccination procedures vary depending on the age of an animal and the product available for vaccination. Always ask veterinarians for advice on what vaccines a pet may need and how often they need to receive boosters. For more information concerning veterinary care at JB MDL, please contact the Veterinary Treatment Facility at (609) 562-4293.