All parts of the state have rabid bats that could infect unvaccinated animals. Dogs and cats could get rabies from chewing on weak or dead rabid bats. Rabies vaccines will protect pets. Animals in rural areas are at a greater risk from raccoons, but bats are frequently found in cities as well as on farms. Humans are most often exposed to rabies from handling bats.
State laws prohibit people from owning wild animals such as raccoons.
Rabies vaccinations are not only important for the health of animals and their owners, they are required by law for all dogs and cats. The law further authorizes law enforcement officers to kill any dog older than 3 months running loose which does not have a collar and rabies tag. In an effort to launch a counter offensive against the deadly disease, several agencies will conduct vaccination clinics in rural parts of Mississippi on May 2. Members of the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association will be working with the state Board of Health and the Board of Animal Health to provide low cost vaccinations to animals in high-risk areas. Dr. Clyde Taylor, a member of the MVMA rabies committee, said veterinarians have given their support to the vaccination program because they view rabies as a real threat to Mississippi's animal and human populations.