All dogs and cats more than four months of age are required to have a current rabies inoculation. After vaccination, a metal tag is given to the owner to place on the collar of the pet. The owner will also receive a certificate of vaccination verifying that the animal has been inoculated, and a copy will be on file in the office of Emergency Services and the participating veterinarian.

The failure of an owner to comply with any new law of the state relating to the control of rabies shall constitute a violation of a local and of a NC General Statue. It shall be unlawful for an owner to fail to have each animal owned by them vaccinated against rabies as required by the state law and to procure the metal tag issued upon such vaccination.

It shall be unlawful for any owner to fail to provide each animal owned by them, which is required by state law to be vaccinated against rabies with a collar or harness to which a currently valid metal rabies tag is securely attached.

It shall be unlawful for any person to place or cause or allow to be placed on any animal a metal Rabies tag other than such tag duly issued with respect to such animal.

Each year during the month of April, Catawba County will sponsor Rabies Vaccination Clinics in different location across the county. The fees for the required rabies vaccinations administered at county sponsored rabies clinics shall be $5. Fees may change from time to time but will be set forth in the fee schedule of the county, which is kept on file in the office of the Budget Manager.

• Policy for Dealing with the Confinement of Dogs and Cats After They Have Bitten a Human Being(PDF)
• Policy for Dealing with Animals Exposed to Rabies (PDF)
• Rabies Tag Lookup
• State Rabies Information

(See also ANIMAL BITE MANAGEMENT for further information on rabies.)