Dead Bat With Rabies Sparks Reminder From Santa Cruz Animal Shelters

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is reminding people of the importance of getting your pet vaccinated against rabies after a dead bat that was killed by a person's cat in the county tested positive for the disease.

"Rabies is a viral disease which spreads by the saliva of an infected animal and leads to brain
inflammation," the shelter said. "The good news for local pet owners is that this disease is preventable with a simple vaccination!"

Rabies cases are rare and there are less than 20,000 a year in the country, the shelter said.

The shelter's One-Stop vaccination program has started back up again with modified hours.

The low-cost vaccination clinic is open on the following days from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Cruz shelter at 1001 Rodriguez Street.

• April 27
• May 11
• May 25
• June 8
• June 22
• July 27
• August 10
• August 24

Follow this link for more on the vaccine program.