United for a Rabies-Free World: What Every Vet Team Can Do on World Rabies Day

Every year on September 28th, veterinary professionals, pet parents, and public health advocates unite for World Rabies Day. It’s a day dedicated to a powerful truth: rabies, one of the deadliest diseases known, is almost 100% preventable.

This day is more than an awareness campaign—it’s a call to action. It’s a powerful reminder that the health of our pets, our patients, our communities, and our wildlife are all connected. Rabies prevention is a classic example of “One Health” in action. The simple act of vaccinating a pet is a critical step that protects the animal and acts as a barrier to the spread of disease to humans.

The success of rabies vaccination campaigns is one of the greatest public health achievements of our time. We have the science and the tools to protect our communities, but the fight isn’t over. Globally, rabies still causes 59,000 human deaths each year, most in regions with limited access to vaccines. Here in North America, wildlife—especially bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes—remain carriers for the virus, making vaccination a non-negotiable part of a pet’s wellness plan, even if a pet is indoor only.

By prioritizing and reinforcing the importance of the rabies vaccine, we are doing more than just checking a box on a patient’s medical record. We are actively participating in a global effort to eliminate a deadly disease.

You, Me, and the Community: How Vet Teams Can Lead the Charge

The 2025 theme from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) is “You · Me · Community.” It’s a simple phrase with a powerful meaning that guides our efforts:

• You (The Pet Owner): An individual can protect their pets, stay informed, and share what they know.
• Me (The Veterinary Professional): We can educate, inspire, and lead by example.
• Community (Together): We can organize clinics, advocate for public health, and create rabies-free neighborhoods.

Here are three practical ways every vet team can embody this mission and make a difference:

1. Make Vaccination Easy and Accessible 

Even with legal requirements, pet owners can fall behind. Hosting a rabies vaccine clinic—or simply ensuring the conversation is had during every routine visit—goes a long way. Use your practice management software to send automated reminders via email or text. Remind clients that even indoor pets need protection, as wildlife, especially bats, can find their way inside. You can link information about rabies from trusted sources, like Veterinary Partner, directly in your discharge instructions, furthering pet parent’s knowledge.

2. Share Awareness in Bite-Sized Pieces

Not everyone knows rabies is still a threat. Use your clinic’s social media, newsletters, or waiting room displays to share quick facts, like:

• Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
• Vaccination is safe, effective, and required by law in most places.
• Wildlife exposure is the most common source of infection for pets in the U.S.

You can make it fun and engaging with a “Rabies Myth-Buster” series or behind-the-scenes photos of your team at work.

3. Use Veterinary Software to Your Advantage

Your software can be a powerful ally in this fight. While the act of vaccination is hands-on, administration and education can be streamlined.

• Automated Reminders: Modern, cloud-based software like Shepherd can send timely reminders of when a pet’s rabies vaccine is due, ensuring clients are notified without adding to your team’s workload.
• Client Portals: Share articles and fact sheets about rabies through an online client portal. When a client receives a vaccine reminder, you can include a link to a resource that explains the “why” behind the vaccine, empowering them with knowledge and increasing compliance.
• Streamlined Documentation: Integrated systems can automatically update a pet’s medical record with vaccine information, reducing the chance of manual error and ensuring accurate documentation for legal and public health purposes.

Rabies prevention is one of the clearest examples of One Health in action—when we protect animals, we protect people. Each rabies vaccine we administer is a shield that extends beyond a single patient. 

On this World Rabies Day, remember: you don’t have to do something huge to make a difference. Small actions add up. Educate one pet owner. Vaccinate one more animal. Share one post on social media. So, here’s to you. Here’s to me. And here’s to our Community. Together, we can create a future free of rabies!