Protect your pets from rabies threat as weather warms, province warns

The spread of rabies in Hamilton has slowed, new numbers from the province show, but there's still a risk for people and their pets as springtime activities push people outside.

In the first three months of 2017, the province discovered 30 raccoon rabies strain cases, says Beverly Stevenson, a science transfer specialist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

In the same period the year before, there were 66 cases, she says, which is a positive sign. But though there are fewer cases, the area in which rabid animals are being found has grown, with one case in recent weeks coming from the Port Colborne area.

The province is heading into its second summer battling the re-emergence of rabies. It's likely still going to take three to five years to get rid of rabies since it appeared in Hamilton in 2015, she says, even though the ministry dropped a whopping 1.6 million rabies vaccine baits last year.

"I'm hopeful — but not optimistic — that everything would be gone this year," she said. This outbreak is the first time rabies has been found in Ontario in a decade.

The province will begin distributing rabies vaccine baits in urban areas of the city starting in July. The rabies control area stretches from Niagara region up towards Owen Sound.

By late July, they'll be dropping them over wide swaths of the region by helicopter, Stevenson says. Here are the locations:

In the meantime, there's still a real threat to people and their pets. The city discovered rabid cats over the last year, as well as a rabid cow.

"People really should avoid handling or approaching any wildlife or stray animals," Stevenson said.

In an effort to protect pets, the city is hosting a low-cost rabies vaccine clinic this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 345 Jones Road in Stoney Creek.

Dogs and cats can be vaccinated for $25 each, cash only, on a first come, first serve basis.

Free HSR shuttle is available to and from the clinic location every hour beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, at the corner of Hughson Street North and King Street East. Dogs must be muzzled and leashed to ride the bus, cats must be in a carrier, the city says.

"With the arrival of warmer weather the chances of encountering a raccoon, skunk or other wild animal is higher as both people and animals are more active outdoors," said Dr. Julie Emili, associate medical officer of health with the city.

"Offering low cost rabies vaccine clinics reduces financial barriers for residents enabling them to protect their pets and families from this deadly disease."

Though the chances of someone encountering a rabid animal rises in the warmer months, it's actually mating season when the virus spreads the most, from December to March.