World Rabies Day will be recognized nationally and internationally alike on Sunday, Sept. 28. The local Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) will be putting on a mini-series of events on Saturday, Sept. 27 in recognition of World Rabies Day.

World Rabies Day was started in September 2007, making this the second ever World Rabies Day. According to the World Rabies Day website (http://www.worldrabiesday.org), “The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it, and how to eliminate the main global sources.”

Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system and is usually transmitted to people and animals from the bite of an infected animal. Rabies can also be transmitted when a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut from the saliva of the infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal.

The World Rabies Day Organization has urged veterinary students and veterinarians all over the world, to get involved and spread the word about rabies. The local SCAVMA Chapter from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) will be hosting the second annual Mutt Strutt, this Saturday, at Kiesel Park. Emily Hayden, president of the local SCAVMA Chapter and Co-Chairs Jessica Sherrill and Alyson Adams are responsible for all the preparations that have been made.

The 5k run will kick off at 8:00 a.m. followed immediately by the Mutt Strutt. The Mutt Strutt is a one mile walk or jog by participants and their pets.

Registration for participants will start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at Kiesel Park. The registration fee is $10 for one event and $15 dollars to compete in both events. The entry fee will include a World Rabies Day t-shirt as well as allow participants to become eligible for prizes. All the proceeds made on this day will go to benefit the Lee County
Humane Society.

This years Mutt Strutt has several sponsors. Purina will be the financial sponsor for this event along with the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM), Intervet Schering-Plough, as well as other local businesses who have made financial contributions.

Some of the prizes include two gift certificates to Niffer’s, Advantage medication for heartworms, flea and intestinal parasites, as well as water bottles and visors for the participants. The prizes will be given to both male and female winners that place first to third in the 5k race.

When asked about Mutt Stutt, Adams responded, “I feel it’s important for people to learn about rabies because it’s zoonotic, meaning it’s transferable from animals to humans.” Adams went on to say that providing information in any way possible, such as the Mutt Strutt in Auburn, would increase awareness about the disease which in turn helps combat the issue in an innovative way.

Auburn’s recognition of World Rabies Day will continue in November. The local SCAVMA Chapter is planning to host an open meeting for the public to continue raising awareness about rabies. A date and time will be published later.

For more information about World Rabies Day and a way you can help, go to their website: http://www.worldrabiesday.org.




Find more videos like this on The Loveliest Village