Run Wild! Rabies Free Africa 5K

Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital is hosting a VIRTUAL 5K in support of Rabies Free Africa. 

 

Earlier this year, our very own, Dr. McIntosh traveled to Africa to participate firsthand in RFA’s dog and cat vaccination campaigns. During her trip, she joined other veterinary professionals in the field to vaccinate dogs and cats, learn about local public health challenges, and witness the life-saving impact of this program on both people and animals. Her experience brought to life the incredible importance of rabies prevention efforts and strengthened our hospital’s commitment to continuing this partnership.

Rabies is a preventable yet deadly disease that still affects thousands of people worldwide, particularly in regions where access to vaccines and education is limited. The statistics underscore just how crucial this work is:

• An estimated 60,000 people die from rabies each year
• 99% of rabies cases are in Africa and Asia
• Approximately 50% of rabies victims are children under the age of 16.
• Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal — yet it is 100% preventable through vaccination.
• Thanks to programs like Rabies Free Africa, over 2.5 million vaccine doses have been administered, leading to an estimated 750 lives saved and zero human deaths in key vaccination zones.

Making an Impact Together

Every rabies vaccine you choose for your pet at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital helps protect not only your own community but also families and animals across the globe. 

Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital is honored to play a small part in this global mission, and we’re deeply grateful to our clients for making it possible. Your commitment to keeping pets healthy is making a real difference around the world.

We are taking our commitment one step farther by hosting this virtual 5K to spread awareness locally and across the nation! Proceeds from our virtual 5K will go to Rabies Free Africa. Together, we’re supporting the global goal to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030!