South Carolina law requires every dog, cat and ferret to be vaccinated against rabies often enough to stay continuously protected, with no exception for indoor pets (S.C. Code 47-5-60). Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land, a vet clinic in Indian Land, South Carolina, gives rabies vaccines to dogs and cats and hands you the signed certificate and metal tag at the same visit.
Call (803) 232-9817 or book online.
What does South Carolina rabies law require for dogs and cats?
Under the South Carolina Rabies Control Act (Section 47-5-60), you must keep your dog, cat or ferret vaccinated with a USDA-licensed vaccine at a frequency that gives continuous protection. The law sets no single first-shot age or booster interval; those come from the label of the vaccine your pet receives. The SC Department of Public Health says multi-year vaccines meet state law, and ferrets are revaccinated every year.
"Continuous" is the word that matters. If a booster runs late, your pet has a gap, and a gap changes what happens after an exposure.
Is rabies a real risk in Lancaster County?
Yes. In January 2025, the South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed rabid raccoons in Lancaster and Greenwood Counties, and two dogs exposed in each county had to be quarantined. Raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats are the main carriers of rabies in South Carolina, according to the same agency.
How often does Petfolk Indian Land give rabies vaccines?
Rabies is part of many vaccine visits at Petfolk Indian Land, for cats as well as dogs.
About 2 in 5 Indian Land dog vaccine visits (42%) included a rabies shot (May 8 to October 19, 2026).
About 4 in 5 Indian Land cat rabies vaccines (81%) were the PureVax recombinant 1-year vaccine (same window).
About a third of the rabies vaccines given at Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics (36%) went to cats (October 2025 to September 2026).
They helped us with a last minute rabies vaccination, booked two hours before the appointment.
Kylee M., Google review
Which proves my pet's rabies vaccine: the tag or the certificate?
Both, for different people. Under South Carolina law:
The rabies tag is a serially numbered metal tag worn on a collar or harness at all times. Anyone who finds your pet loose can use the number to trace the vaccine record.
The rabies certificate is signed by a licensed veterinarian and shows the vaccine details and when the next dose is due. Groomers, kennels, shelters and travel paperwork ask for it. The vet keeps a copy on file for at least three years.
The tag and certificate carry the same number. If you lose either one, call the clinic that vaccinated your pet.
What happens after a bite or wildlife contact in South Carolina?
South Carolina law sets these steps:
Your pet bites a person. The animal is confined for at least 10 days (Section 47-5-100). Keep the certificate handy and follow the county's instructions.
Your currently vaccinated pet is exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal. The pet is revaccinated right away and quarantined for at least 45 days (Section 47-5-110). Call Petfolk Indian Land to book the booster.
Your unvaccinated pet is exposed. The quarantine is at least 180 days. Call the clinic and the county.
You see a stray or aggressive animal. Report it to Lancaster County Animal Control, and don't try to catch it.
The difference between 45 and 180 days is the clearest reason to keep boosters on time. If a wild animal bit your pet, wear gloves before touching the wound, because saliva on the coat can carry the virus.
What is the rabies vaccine visit like?
At Petfolk Indian Land, the vet does a short exam first, because a vaccine should go into a pet who is well that day. The shot takes seconds, and many pet parents pair it with a yearly checkup or other core dog vaccines. Nervous dog? The team uses Gentle Handling: slow approaches, treats and breaks. A little soreness or sleepiness for a day is common.
When does a rabies shot reaction or a bite need a 24-hour hospital?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting or trouble breathing within hours of a vaccine, or for heavy bleeding, a deep wound to the face, neck or chest, or labored breathing after a fight. The rabies booster and paperwork can follow once your pet is stable.
Where can I get a rabies shot off Sherbrook Avenue?
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land is a veterinarian in Indian Land at 1150 Sherbrook Ave, Ste B109, Indian Land, SC 29707, just east of Charlotte Highway. The entrance faces the parking lot. Call (803) 232-9817 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land, or see all veterinary services in Indian Land.
Rabies shot questions from Lancaster County pet parents
Off Charlotte Highway on Sherbrook Avenue