By COLE REIF - Great Bend Post
This past January, staff at the Golden Belt Humane Society received a report of a skunk testing positive for rabies. The animal to animal exposure occurred near Heizer.
All the necessary precautions were taken, but the Humane Society wants to make Barton County residents aware that rabies exists in the area.
Raccoons, foxes and bats are other known carriers of the virus, but skunks have posed the most threat because they are seen more frequent in town, according to Humane Society Director Heather Acheson.
Exposures to rabies are costly. Your animal may spend 10 days to six months in quarantine, adding up large medical bills. Acheson reminds pet owners to save themselves from the rabies hassle and keep vaccinating your animals.
"If your pet is three months old; for example, the vaccination is only good for one year," said Acheson. "After that, your pet will get a booster which is good up to three years. Whatever your veterinarian decides to give you, that is what you follow."
Most veterinary clinics send out reminders of when vaccinations are due. If you are in question about your pets, give your vet a call. A $15 vaccine can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the future if your pet is exposed to the virus.