Robeson County isn’t under a rabies watch; it’s under a rabies warning, meaning the killer virus is out there.

There have been in recent months reports of wild animals in this county that have died from the virus, so it’s an easy jump to conclude that there are more animals out there carrying it. They are a threat to our domesticated pets, dogs and cats, obviously, but also to humans, especially those who own dogs and cats.

The Robeson County Veterinary Medical Association is once again doing its part. The association is currently in the middle of a week-long outreach program to get pets vaccinated. The clinics are being held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each day at fire departments throughout the county, with all 32 of them eventually being utilized. There is a short story elsewhere in today’s The Robesonian with information on where the clinics will be held today, Thursday and Friday.

The cost to a pet owner is just $5, with the Robeson County Board of Commissioners chipping in $3, so the veterinarians are offering a discounted price of $8. It is hard to imagine that the vets are making money during this project because of the expenses of making rounds across the county.

There remain a lot of irresponsible pets owners in Robeson County, and few things says that a person doesn’t value his or her companionship with a dog or cat than not having it vaccinated against rabies. Dogs and cats that come into contact with a rabid animal are at risk to be infected with the always-fatal disease, but even if they don’t contract it, there is a chance they will be euthanized should the owner decide not to pay the bill of what could be an expensive quarantine.

There really isn’t any excuse in not having a pet vaccinated since the cost is that of a Happy Meal and the clinics are coming to a neighborhood near you.

The clinics, which are held twice a year, are just another example of the good work that is done by the association, which includes the following: Baird’s Animal Hospital in Lumberton; North End Veterinary Clinic in Lumberton; Southeastern Veterinary Hospital in Lumberton; South Robeson Veterinary Hospital in Fairmont; North Star Veterinary Hospital in Parkton; and Pembroke Veterinary Hospital in Pembroke.

Next month, the association will again offer its SNIP program, during which dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered for a discounted price. That initiative will be from Sept. 8 to Sept 18.

We will tell you more about SNIP closer to those dates, but we can tell you now that it is responsible for keeping from being born millions of dogs and cats in this county who would not have found the world friendly. Yes, we said millions, and that is not an exaggeration giving the rapidity with which dogs and cats can reproduce.

The Robeson County Veterinary Medical Association is doing its part. Pet owners need to do theirs.