{"id":913415,"date":"2026-09-29T00:16:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T00:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/913415\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T00:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T00:16:11","slug":"barrie-pooches-get-shots-against-worlds-deadliest-zoonotic-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/913415\/","title":{"rendered":"Barrie pooches get shots against ‘world\u2019s deadliest zoonotic disease’"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Ontario seeing heightened rabies activity in 2026, including 23 confirmed rabies-positive bats reported, Barrie SPCA urging residents to keep pets protected<\/p>\n

Monday marked\u00a0World Rabies Day, with local pooches getting a leg up on their vaccines with a free shot today.<\/p>\n

This first year of the program at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre was a hit with a fully booked 25-appointment injection schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cRabies is the world\u2019s deadliest zoonotic disease, but it\u2019s one that can be entirely preventable, and we don\u2019t want to have any financial barriers for people to be able to provide those vaccines for their animals,\u201d Janna Handiak,\u00a0operations manager at the centre, told BarrieToday at the clinic.<\/p>\n

\"20260928worldrabiesdayvaccines2\"
\nA veterinarian gives a rabies vaccine to a dog at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre on Patterson Road in Barrie on Monday, which is World Rabies Day. | Kevin Lamb\/BarrieToday <\/p>\n

A zoonotic disease in an infectious illness that spreads naturally between animals and humans.<\/p>\n

Rabies can be fatal for both pets and their owners.<\/p>\n

Typically, a rabies vaccination appointment runs just over $100, so the savings is significant for many pet owners.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2026, there\u2019s heightened rabies activity, with 23 confirmed rabies-positive bats reported this year to date. And active raccoon rabies outbreaks have happened along the eastern and southern borders as well,\u201d Handiak said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in a small examination room, Toby, who is six years old, is a small, nervous and shaky dog, who suddenly seems unsure of the benefits of the program on its surface, as a veterinarian fills out a questionnaire just before poking Toby\u2019s behind with a syringe.<\/p>\n

Not a peep was let out after the jab, as Toby was a good boy.<\/p>\n

Toby\u2019s owner, Daniele Eldridge\u00a0called it \u201can easy process,\u201d especially when it\u2019s free.<\/p>\n

How did she feel Toby handled the appointment?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was perfect,\u00a0he loved it. He\u2019s calm and he\u2019s relaxed \u2013 he\u2019s normally shaking, so this is really good,\u201d the Barrie resident\u00a0explained about his initial behaviour around the doctor.<\/p>\n

The next patient in line, Chai, a fluffy little pup, who was genuinely nervous to be there, received their shot with little fuss as well. A lot of affection from the owner seemed to help ease the anxiety.<\/p>\n

And with that, the pups are good to go for at least a year until they are due for their next shot against the terrible disease that is rabies.<\/p>\n

\"20260928worldrabiesdayvaccines3\"
\nChai gets some love from their owner to relieve anxiety as they get a rabies vaccine at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre on Patterson Road in Barrie on Monday, which is World Rabies Day. | Kevin Lamb\/BarrieToday <\/p>\n

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