World Rabies Day - "Stronger Together"

This year's theme for World Rabies Day is "Stronger Together," emphasizing that the elimination of rabies is only possible through joint efforts of veterinary and health services, institutions, local communities, experts, and citizens. Vaccination, effective surveillance, timely reporting of the disease, raising public awareness, responsible pet ownership, and prompt protection of people after potential exposure are key measures to prevent rabies. One of the most important preventive measures is oral vaccination of foxes and other wild carnivores against rabies, implemented by the Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Affairs Directorate with EU support since 2011. An additional confirmation of Montenegro's achievements in controlling and eradicating rabies is the European Commission's decision to significantly simplify non-commercial movement of pets from Montenegro to EU member states. Regulation (EU) 2026/1169, published this year, includes Montenegro on the list of third countries from which non-commercial movement of pets—dogs, cats, and ferrets—is permitted without the need to prove antibody titers against rabies. The slogan "Stronger Together" this year demonstrates that successful zoonosis prevention requires cooperation among institutions, veterinary and health professionals, pet owners, and all citizens," said Vladimir Đaković, Director of the Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Affairs Directorate, highlighting that the achieved results confirm the effectiveness of long-term measures and the obligation to continue their implementation.