Ask an expert
Q: I guess I need to have my dog vaccinated even though she never gets out of the yard and is 13 years old. What's your advice?
A: It is not out of concern for the welfare of your pet that the government regulates rabies vaccinations. It is actually out of concern for human welfare. Humans that are bitten by rabid animals have little chance of survival once the virus has reached the nervous system and the victim is showing neurological signs. Consider what may happen if your older dog is bitten by a wild rabid animal that happens to get into your yard. This is why it's a mandatory state law.
-- Karen Walsh, executive director, McKamey Animal Center