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Date Published: 12/07/2023

Alhama de Murcia launches anti-rabies vaccination campaign for pets

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The mandatory 2023 anti-rabies vaccination campaign for dogs, cats and ferrets is open until August 31

Alhama de Murcia launches anti-rabies vaccination campaign for pets The Town Council of Alhama de Murcia has announced the start of its anti-rabies vaccination campaign for pets this summer.

Lali Salas, the local Councillor for Animal Welfare, together with the veterinarian Ángel Roa, held a press conference to inform pet owners about the various issues that they should take into account when it comes to their animals.

The Councillor stated that the campaign aims to increase “preventive measures to control rabies and vaccinate all dogs, cats and ferrets residing in the municipality.”

Meanwhile, the vet highlighted the importance of diagnosing and controlling animal diseases in order to protect them. He added that once the animals are taken to the various veterinary clinics in the municipality, they are also checked to avoid other diseases such as hydatidosis and leishmaniasis.

The occasion also served as a reminder of the obligation to microchip animals in order to avoid animal abandonment, as well as the need to have licenses if the breed is potentially dangerous.

In addition, during the months of July and August, the price both for vaccination and microchip implantation in Alhama has been reduced compared to the rest of the year.

The veterinary clinics that are collaborating in the campaign with the Town Council are Cachorros, Tucán Vetersalud and the Alhama Veterinary Center.

Alhama de Murcia Town Council has also taken advantage of this campaign to share some useful information for pet owners:

What is rabies?

Rabies, also known as hydrophobia because it produces a fear of water in animals, is caused by infection with a rod-shaped virus that infects the central nervous system and causes acute encephalitis. It attacks both wild and domestic mammals, including humans. In natural areas, the bat is the main vector of rabies, while in urban areas it is the dog. The best way to prevent the spread of this disease is to vaccinate these animals.

Since June 2013, rabies in Spain has been officially declared eradicated, as well as in other countries of the European Union. The last officially recognised case was in 2013 in Toledo.
Animals vaccinated for the first time will be given an official health card.
If the vaccination is their second or more, the owner of the animal must bring along their pet’s corresponding health card.
Animals that meet the minimum age for vaccination after the end of the campaign may go to any of the aforementioned clinics to get their pet vaccinated.
As of the end date of the campaign, all dogs whose owners do not have a health vaccination card or a microchip may be picked up as strays. Of course, they will not be able to circulate on public roads if they are not covered by the duly completed health card.
Not vaccinating or not carrying out mandatory treatments is considered a serious offense and can be penalised with a fine of between 300 and 2,400 euros.

Microchipping

The identification of dogs by implanting a microchip is mandatory. They are normally placed on the left side of the animal’s neck, next to the ear. This microchip contains a code that allows the identification of the animal and its owner. The best time to get your dog chipped, if it isn’t already, is when you go in for your vaccines.
This is obligatory from the dog’s third month of life or one month after you get it.
Failure to identify the animal is a serious offense and can be punished with a fine of between 1,501 and 6,000 euros.

Locating a dog

One of the advantages of microchipping is being able to locate the owner of an abandoned or lost dog.

Dog poop

The law says that the owner of a dog has to remove its excrement from public roads and places. It is a hygienic-sanitary issue of the utmost importance, not only for aesthetic reasons or because of the risks of falls or dirt for other pedestrians, but also because faeces can become a home for numerous pathogenic microorganisms.
Given that the regulations prohibit the dogs to be on public thoroughfares without a lead or chain and without being restrained by its owner or keeper, the dog cannot be released from home to answer the call of nature without being accompanied by a person.
The removal of poop deposited on public roads by a dog does not cost its owner any money. However, the fine for not withdrawing it ranges between 301 and 750 euros. Therefore, picking up the dog’s poop is like picking up 300 euros.

Dangerous animals

Various breeds and sizes of dogs are listed as potentially dangerous. Anyone who owns a dog with these characteristics must compulsorily possess the so-called Municipal License for Possession of Potentially Dangerous Animals.
It is requested at the Town Hall and to obtain it, various documents must be presented, among others a criminal certificate, which is processed by the Town Hall itself, and civil liability insurance.
For the granting of the license, the City Council charges 35 euros. The fine for not having it ranges between 2,404 and 15,025 euros.

The law around keeping pets

Of the possession of companion animals, that is, everything that has to do with the purchase of an animal, its identification, its vaccinations, circulation through public spaces, etc.: Regional Law 6/2017, on Protection and Defense of Companion Animals, State Law 50/1999, on the Legal Regime of the Possession of Potentially Dangerous Animals, royal decrees 287/2002 and 1,570/2007, which develop this Law, and Municipal Ordinance on Protection and Possession of Pets of Company, of 1998, modified in 2002. On September 29, the new state Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the protection of the rights and welfare of animals will enter into force.
On the removal of faeces from public roads, the Municipal Ordinance on Street Cleaning and Municipal Waste Management, of 2012.
These regulations are available to anyone who wishes to consult them at the Department of Animal Welfare of the Alhama City Council. The municipal ordinances are available on the website www.ayuntamiento.alhamademurcia.es.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today

Image: Ayuntamiento de Alhama de Murcia

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Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución, just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia.

The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama. These be loaned at any time, although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour, and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office.

The office also carries a full range of leaflets for the archaeological museum of Los Baños, which is built around the historic spa which gives Alhama its name, and the mountains of Sierra Espuña, which is also an important area within the municipality of Alhama. Areas such as El Berro and Gebas have a number of interesting routes which can be followed and there are several picnic areas and good walking routes within the Sierra Espuña natural park.

The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year, including Los Mayos, Semana Santa, Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro.