Do house pets really need rabies shots?
Regular readers are aware of my unconditional opposition to the rabies vaccine. In spite of all the horrible pictures doctors conjure up of hydrophobic patients frothing at the mouth, I am much more afraid of the documented dangers of neurologic damage and death from the vaccine. Now, a doctor from Mississagua, Ontario, Canada, has joined the opposition. As reported in the Toronto Globe and Mail of January 28, 1988, Dr Peter Cole, Medical Officer of Health, has refused to support tighter controls of vicious dogs. Present legislation gives the Medical Officer discretion over whether or not to order a l0-day quarantine of animals which 80 bite humans. Now, a new law requires that any dog which bites a human must be quarantined for 30 days. Dr Cole disagrees. Dr Cole also opposes compulsory rabies vaccination of household dogs and cats. He says he would not bother getting antirabies shots if he were bitten by a pet because there is no relationship between rabies and control of vicious dog
