The best way to protect yourself and your family from rabies is to have your pets vaccinated and avoid contact with wild animals, stray dogs and cats. Even indoor pets need to be vaccinated for protection against rabies.

To protect yourself and your pet:

• Don't let your pets run free. Keep them indoors at night.
• Keep all your animal vaccinations current.
• Protect yards and gardens from small animals (e.g. raccoons, skunks, etc.).

Adults should remind children that you can't always tell if an animal is friendly or has rabies, so they should:

• Always ask permission before petting any dog or cat.
• Tell an adult right away if they ever see a lost, unknown, or injured animal.
• Never touch or play with ANY wild animal, even squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, rabbits, or bats.
• Tell an adult right away if they have touched or have been scratched or bitten by ANY animal.
• Educate children regarding the risks associated with wild or unknown animals. We provide resources in both English and French.

 All bites and scratches from an animal must be reported to the health unit.