North Carolina law requires every dog, cat and ferret over four months old to be vaccinated against rabies and kept current, with the first booster one year later and then every one or three years depending on the vaccine. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is a vet clinic in Concord, North Carolina, that gives rabies vaccines to dogs and cats with an exam and sends you home with the certificate and tag.
Rabies is a virus carried in an infected animal's saliva and passed on mostly through bites. It can't be cured once signs appear, in pets or in people. Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
When does my pet need its first rabies shot?
Your puppy or kitten can get a first rabies shot from three months old, and North Carolina requires it once your pet is over four months old (G.S. 130A-185). The law also says who may give it: a licensed veterinarian, a registered veterinary technician under a vet's direct supervision, or a certified rabies vaccinator, using a USDA-licensed vaccine. A dose given at home doesn't count.
Most puppies and kittens get their first rabies dose near the end of their baby series, so it rarely needs a trip of its own. The kitten vaccines page shows how it lines up with the other early shots.
One year, then one or three
In North Carolina, the first rabies booster is due one year after the first shot; after that, pets are revaccinated every three years with a USDA-licensed three-year vaccine, or every year otherwise (10A NCAC 41G .0101). The due date printed on your Petfolk Concord certificate is the one that counts. Snap a photo of it and set a phone reminder a month ahead.
A titer, a blood test for rabies antibodies, doesn't replace the vaccine under North Carolina rules.
Rabies at 4 in 10 dog vaccine visits
From October 2025 to September 2026, more than 4 in 10 dog vaccine visits at Petfolk Concord (43%) included a rabies shot, and more than a third of the rabies vaccines given there (37%) went to cats.
A certificate, a tag and a quiet evening
After a rabies shot at Petfolk Concord you go home with two pieces of proof:
The certificate, with the vaccine product, the date given and the date the next dose is due.
The tag, the metal disc for the collar, numbered to match the certificate.
The Cabarrus County animal ordinance asks dogs to wear the rabies tag. Cats don't have to wear theirs, but you keep the certificate. A loose pet with no proof of vaccination can be picked up by Animal Control, so a tag can get your dog home faster.
Gentle Handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so a nervous dog or cat gets treats and time. Mild soreness and a sleepy evening are common for a day. Call the clinic if you see face swelling, hives or vomiting within a few hours.
Is rabies found around Concord?
Yes, in wildlife. In 2025, North Carolina's State Laboratory of Public Health confirmed 7 rabies-positive animals in Cabarrus County, all wildlife: skunks, raccoons, a bat and a fox. If your pet tangles with a wild animal, or comes in with fresh bite marks after a night outside, wear gloves to handle it and call Petfolk Concord. A pet that is current usually needs a booster soon after, plus observation at home; a pet that is overdue faces stricter options set by the county health director.
What happens if my pet bites someone?
Under North Carolina law, a dog or cat that bites a person must be confined for 10 days in a place the local health director chooses, which may be your home (G.S. 130A-196). Cabarrus Animal Services runs through the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office and handles these reports for Concord and the rest of the county. Anyone who was bitten should get medical advice the same day; the CDC explains how doctors decide whether a person needs rabies shots.
If a fight left deep wounds, heavy bleeding or breathing trouble, a 24-hour emergency hospital is the first stop, and the rabies questions come after. Petfolk Concord is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and doesn't provide overnight care.
Get the rabies shot in Concord
Rabies shots are given at a wellness exam that starts at $99, or is included with the PetfolkCare plan. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord is at 2425 Herrons Nest Pl NW, Suite 100, Concord, NC 28027, and sees dogs and cats. Call (980) 360-2922 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Concord, or see all veterinary services in Concord.
Rabies shots in Cabarrus County: quick answers
On Herrons Nest Place, near Lowes Foods