Local veterinarians and clinics are preparing to offer vaccinations against an acute, infectious and often fatal viral disease that is spread by the bite of infected animals.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports that more than 31,000 pets were vaccinated against rabies statewide during special clinics last year.

Dr. Wayne Harley of Orangeburg Veterinary Associates said DHEC is not sponsoring the rabies vaccinations at the clinics in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties because they are being offered for $5.

The Rabies Control Act mandates DHEC clinics cannot charge more than $3, but Harley said the cost increase is warranted because veterinarians have to bear the cost of help, syringes and the vaccination itself.

Fees for vaccinations being administered by local veterinarians in Bamberg County, however, will be sponsored by DHEC and are set at $3.

"The veterinarians in this area ... pulled away from the health department strictly because it's through the legislative process that the rabies shots the health department offers is $3. That's a veterinary expense. The vaccination has gone up in years, and we can't afford to do it any longer at $3," said Harley, noting that the rate was in the process of being changed by the General Assembly to $5, but has since been held up.

"Nothing has been passed on it. It's been three dollars for 42 years now. Gas prices have gone up, it's time for that to go up, too. We're not making a killing," said Harley, noting that the rabies vaccinations are critical to help protect individuals and their pets from rabies.

"It is the law. You have to have it done. Rabies is a significant zoonotic disease, meaning people can catch it. Due to the wildlife in this area -- raccoons, foxes, plus stray animals -- rabies is here. It's important that everybody get their animals vaccinated in order to control it," Harley said.

"Over the past few years, Orangeburg County hasn't had as many cases as we used to have," he said, but vaccinations are still critical.

"If your dog bites somebody and is not vaccinated, your dog has to get quarantined and possibly euthanized and tested for rabies. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years, the number of people attending the rabies clinics has dropped," Harley said.

The owner of a non-vaccinated domestic pet may be found guilty of a misdemeanor and fined up to $500 or imprisoned for up to 30 days.

Annually, approximately 400 South Carolinians undergo preventive treatment after being bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal. The cost of treatment is approximately $1,000 per person.

Dates, times and locations of special rabies vaccination clinics can be obtained from DHEC's county health departments and local participating veterinarians.

* On the Net: www.scdhec.gov/rabies.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

2007 rabies clinics in Orangeburg,

Bamberg and Calhoun counties

All dogs must be on a leash. Cats must be in a box or carrier. The South

Carolina Rabies and Control Act requires all dogs and cats that are four months

of age and older to have a current vaccination.

City, location, veterinarian, time

Tuesday, March 27

Sunny Plains, Jimmy's Pit Stop, Harley, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 29

Creston, Judy's Store, Harley, 5 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 31

Cordova, Fire Station, Harley, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sandy Run, Community Center, Harley, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

CawCaw, CawCaw Fire Department, Harley, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

St. Matthews, Courthouse, Harley, noon to 1:30 p.m.

Monday, April 2

Cameron, Fire/Police Department, Harley, 5 to 6 p.m.

Elloree, Midway Field, Harley, 6:15 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 3

Fort Motte, Animal Shelter, Harley, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 4

Bolentown, Bates Old Grocery, Carolina Vet, 5 to 6 p.m.

Santee, Santee Animal Hospital, Shuler, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 5

Springfield, cotton platform, Harley, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Norway, Lot behind bank, Harley, 6 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 7

Sawyerdale (Hwys. 394 and 3), Webb's Country Store, Carolina Vet, 8:30 to 10

a.m.

Neeses, Chaplin's Old Store, Carolina Vet, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Livingston, Town Hall, Carolina Vet, 12:15 to 1 p.m.

Monday April 9

Rowesville, Town Hall, Harley, 5 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 11

Orangeburg, Northgate Shopping Center on U.S. 301, Fields, 6 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 14

Orangeburg, Hutto's Store on Cannon Bridge Road, Fields, 9 to 11 a.m.

Santee, Santee Animal Hospital, Shuler, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Eutawville, Police Station, Hutto, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Orangeburg, Four Holes Gin on U.S. 301, Fields, noon to 1 p.m.

Pine Hill, Crossroads, Fields, 2 to 3 p.m.

Orangeburg, Brookdale School, Fields, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Ehrhardt, Enterprise Bank, Sease, 8 to 10 a.m.

Ehrhardt, Highway 362 - Nelson's Old Grocery Store, Sease, 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Bamberg, Southern Railroad Depot, Dalton, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Bamberg, Southern Railroad Depot, Mitchell, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Denmark, Brooker Center parking lot, Dalton, 9 a.m. to noon

Tuesday, April 17

Orangeburg, Countyline Grocery on Kennerly Road, Fields, 5 to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 18

Orangeburg, North Road at Kennerly Road, Carolina Vet, 5 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 21

Bowman, cotton platform, Carolina Vet, 9 to 11 a.m.

Branchville, Rick's Garage on U.S. 78, Fields, 9 to 10 a.m.

Holly Hill, Hutto's Animal Hospital, Hutto, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Branchville, old cotton platform, Fields, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Branchville, S.C. 210 and Cattle Creek Road, Fields, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Olar, old cotton platform, Dalton, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, April 24

Elloree, old fire station, Hutto, 4 to 6 p.m.

Wednesday April 25

North, Police Station, Carolina Vet, 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 26

Orangeburg, Fersner's old store, Cameron Road at S.C. 33, Fields, 6 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 28

Canaan Community, Sweatman's Old Store, Carolina Vet, 9 to 10 a.m.

Orangeburg, Jamison's Pharmacy, Fields, 9 to 11 a.m.

Santee, Bluff Park / Santee Estates Subdivision, Fields, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Orange Grove, Methodist Church, Mitchell, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

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