By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) will open its doors on Thursday, Oct. 2 and invite Hoosiers in for a public hearing on its rule for the grading and certification of meat and meat products.

The quarterly board meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the hearing to publicly discuss the rule to allow BOAH’s meat inspectors to assign USDA grades (such as choice or select) to products slaughtered in state-inspected facilities.

For more information on LSA No. 08-424 Grading and Certification of Meat and Meat Products, contact Denise Derrer at 317-227-0308.
Following the public hearing, BOAH will recognize employee’s years of services, listen to reports from the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, BOAH interns and division reports including biosecurity, compliance, meat and poultry inspection, cattle health, animal health programs, scrapie, companion animal, equine health, swine health, dairy products inspection, avian health, public information, chief of staff and the state veterinarian’s report.

World Rabies Day
In an effort to recognize the importance of rabies vaccination for domestic pets, the World Health Organization has set aside Sept. 28 as the second annual World Rabies Day to help raise awareness and understanding about the rabies virus and vaccine.

Rabies is the oldest and deadliest disease known to mankind, according to Derrer. Fortunately, it is preventable, she added. Prevention begins with animal owners. Taking pets to be vaccinated regularly is the first step.

Indiana law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets 3 months of age or older be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed, accredited veterinarian. Pets should be kept close to home, as free-roaming animals are at higher risk of exposure to the disease.

In observance of World Rabies Day, several veterinary clinics around the state are taking the opportunity to offer low-cost or no-cost services to the public during September:

•Roseland Animal Hospital in South Bend 574-272-6100
•Humane Society of St. Joseph County 574-255-4726
•Premier Veterinary Services in Kosciusko County
•Emch Enterprises, Inc. located in Fishers 317-913-9359
These clinics may be contacted directly for more information, such as dates, hours and costs.

“Vaccination of pets is so important, because of their close contact with wildlife,” said Dr. Sandra Norman, director of companion animals for the BOAH. “Even indoor-only cats need to be vaccinated, as they can be exposed to bats seeking shelter.”

For more information about rabies, go online to www.in.gov/boah