Did You Know It's Illegal in Indiana To Not Give Your Pets a Rabies Vaccine?

I know that you are supposed to have your pets vaccinated once a year and I do that to protect my puppers from any potentially harmful diseases, but I didn't realize it was illegal not to!

Melissa/WKDQ

Rabies is a deadly disease that animals (and humans!) can get (I mean have you seen Old Yeller?? That movie alone should be reason enough to get your pets vaccinated)! But if you've been on the fence about it, maybe you should go ahead and do that, because it's state law!

According to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health:

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that can infect humans, pets, livestock and wildlife. Preventing the disease in animals provides the best means of protection to humans.
Under Indiana law, all dogs, cats and ferrets older than 3 months of age must be vaccinated against the rabies virus. State law allows the use of 1-year and 3-year vaccines according to approved label directions. (NOTE: Some localities throughout the state may have stricter local laws.) The vaccine must be administered by a licensed and accredited veterinarian only.
(source)

And as it turns out you should make sure you keep those vaccines up to date, because if not you could get into some legal trouble!

A person who knowingly or intentionally harbors a dog that is over the age of six (6) months and not immunized against rabies commits harboring a nonimmunized dog, a class C infraction. However, the offense is a class B misdemeanor if the dog causes bodily injury by biting a person.
(source)

So make sure to get your pets vaccinated! It's not only for the health of your pets, it's also against the law not to!

Get more WKDQ!