Person County Animal Services offers rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats for only $10.

Animals must be at least 4 months old and vaccines are good for one year.
Rabies vaccines are given at Animal Services Building during our business hours. We recommend calling ahead to verify we have a vaccinator available.

Three-year Rabies vaccines are available from any licensed veterinarian to animals who have had at least one Rabies vaccine previously. Contact your veterinarian for more information on three-year vaccines.

Person County Animal Services, along with local veterinarians, holds TWO Rabies Clinics per year (typically in April and October). Call for dates and times.

Rabies Information

What is Rabies? 

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, particularly mammals. The virus is transmitted through saliva and nervous tissue of infected animals. Once the virus has been transmitted, it travels through the nervous system, into the brain, causing neurological abnormalities and death. There is no cure for Rabies. This is why it is extremely important to have your pets vaccinated against Rabies. Also, humans who work in animal fields, or work with animals on a regular basis (veterinary staff, shelter staff, Animal Control, rescue group personnel, etc.) should be vaccinated against Rabies, as they are at a higher risk for bites and potential for transmission. 

What is the State Law for Rabies?

All dogs, cats and ferrets are required by North Carolina law (NC General Statute 130A-185) to have a current Rabies vaccination at the age of 12 weeks (3 months) of age and no later than 16 weeks (4 months) of age. Person County Animal Services can only administer Rabies vaccinations to pets 16 weeks of age or older. A licensed Veterinarian can administer Rabies vaccinations at 12 weeks of age or older. 

Dogs and cats are required by North Carolina Law (NC General Statute 130A-190) to wear a Rabies tag at all times.
This includes strictly "indoor only" pets and outdoor cats as well. Keep your rabies certificate in a safe place and know when your pet's vaccination expires, so you can get a new vaccination BEFORE it expires.

Quarantine periods of 10 days to 6 months may be required for animals that are not current on Rabies vaccinations and have bitten a person or another animal or have been exposed to an animal known to have or thought to have Rabies. Animals that have never been vaccinated for Rabies that have been exposed to an animal known to have or thought to have Rabies, or have bitten a human or other animal, may be quarantined for up to 6 months OR euthanized immediately and sent for Rabies testing.

There is no blood test to check for Rabies. Rabies testing can only be performed by examining the brain of an animal following euthanasia. 

What To Do in the Event of a Bite

ALL ANIMAL BITES TO HUMANS ARE REQUIRED BY NC STATE LAW (NC GENERAL STATUTE 130a-196) TO BE REPORTED TO ANIMAL CONTROL

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, clean the wound out well with soap and running water for 15 minutes and contact your doctor. Write down a description and the location of the animal to provide to Animal Control. DO NOT try to catch any wild animal that bites or scratches you! Call Animal Control immediately to capture the animal for Rabies testing. Any mammal can transmit Rabies. Depending on the species and circumstances, you may need to be evaluated or tested for Rabies or quarantined per NC State Law. 

If the animal is someone's pet, get the owner's name, address and phone number and as much information on the pet (name, age, breed, color) and give to the Animal Control Officer. For dogs, cats, ferrets, Animal Control may be able to locate the animal based on the information provided and can advise you and the owner of what the next steps are.

If your pet is bitten by an animal that is or thought to be rabid, or has an unknown vaccination status, please contact Animal Services immediately. An officer will obtain the proper information and advise you on what to do next. During regular business hours (9am to 4pm), please call 336-597-1741. After hours and weekends, please call the Sheriff Department at 336-597-0500. 

Additional Information 

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Person County Health Department
355-A South Morgan Street, Roxboro, NC 27573
336-597-2204

 Center for Disease Control (CDC)