LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Lincoln Animal Control officials are reminding residents that making sure pets have the rabies vaccine is the best form of protection against domestic stray animals or wildlife who have the disease.

“Getting your pet vaccinated against rabies is part of being a responsible pet owner and it’s required by city ordinance,” said Steve Beal, Animal Control Manager. “Rabies cases in Lancaster County are usually found in bats, not domestic pets. Rabies vaccination protects your pet and it also helps keep you and your family safe too.”

Rabies affects the nervous system and can only be transmitted by the bite of an infected animal or if the saliva from an animal with rabies gets directly in an open wound or a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.

Beal recommends the following to help prevent the spread of rabies:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for pets. In the City of Lincoln, dogs and cats over three months old must be vaccinated against rabies.
• Seek immediate veterinary assistance if your pet is bitten by a wild animal or exposed to a bat.
• Call Lincoln Animal Control at 402-441-7900 about removing stray animals in your neighborhood.
• Do not touch, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick, wild animals to health. Call Animal Control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.

If you think you’ve been exposed to an animal with rabies, contact your health care provider or the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s communicable disease program at 402-441-8053.

City ordinances related to rabies vaccination are available at lincoln.ne.gov/animalcontrol (select: Animal Ordinances). For general information about rabies, visit cdc.gov/rabies.

Contact Animal Control at 402-441-7900 or email [email protected]. You can also follow Animal Control on Facebook: @LincolnAnimalControl.

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