World Rabies Day 2026: Stronger Together in the Fight Against Rabies

Every year on September 28th, organizations, veterinarians, public health officials, and pet owners around the world recognize World Rabies Day. The annual observance shines a spotlight on one of the world’s oldest known diseases while promoting the simple steps that help keep both people and animals safe.

The 2026 World Rabies Day theme, “Stronger Together,” reminds us that eliminating rabies requires collaboration. Veterinarians, public health professionals, animal control agencies, municipalities and pet owners all play an important role in protecting communities through vaccination, education, and responsible pet ownership.

Rabies Prevention Starts with Vaccination

Rabies remains a serious viral disease, but it is also 100% preventable through proper vaccination. Routine rabies vaccinations not only protect individual pets but also help reduce the spread of the disease within communities.

Veterinary clinics and municipalities work year-round to ensure pets remain current on their vaccinations. By following local vaccination requirements and keeping accurate records, pet owners help support 100 vaccination efforts.

World Rabies Day also serves as a reminder to:

• Keep your pet’s rabies vaccination current.
• Store your rabies certificate in a safe place.
• Keep your pet’s rabies tag attached to its collar.
• Contact your veterinarian if you are unsure when your pet is due for its next vaccination.

These small actions help make a significant difference.

Why Rabies Tags Still Matter

While microchips have become an important tool for permanent pet identification, rabies tags continue to serve an important purpose.

A rabies vaccination tag provides immediate visual identification that a pet has been vaccinated. If a lost pet is found, animal control officers, veterinary staff, or Good Samaritans can often use the information on the tag to quickly identify the issuing veterinary clinic or municipality and begin the process of reuniting the pet with its family.

Because the tag is visible on the pet’s collar, it can often provide useful information long before a microchip is scanned.

Modernizing the Traditional Rabies Tag

At National Band & Tag, we’ve spent decades manufacturing customized rabies vaccination tags for veterinary clinics and municipalities across the United States.

Today, many clinics are also choosing Paw Finders, our modern pet recovery system that combines a traditional rabies vaccination tag with QR code technology.

Each Paw Finders rabies tag includes:

• Standard rabies vaccination information on the front.
• A unique QR code on the back.
• A secure online registration that allows pet owners to upload their contact information.

If a pet becomes lost, anyone who finds the animal can simply scan the QR code to access the owner’s contact information (after the owner has registered the tag), helping reunite pets with their families quickly—without placing the burden of lost pet phone calls on the veterinary clinic.

It’s a simple enhancement that builds upon the trusted rabies tag while adding today’s technology.

Planning Ahead for 2027 Rabies Tags

As veterinary clinics begin preparing for the upcoming vaccination year, now is an excellent time to plan ahead.

The 2027 National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) recommended rabies tag style is the Green Bell (Style 153). National Band & Tag offers both the traditional Style 153 and the Style 153PAW, which combines the recommended tag with the Paw Finders pet recovery system.

Ordering early helps ensure clinics receive their customized tags well before the start of the new vaccination year, particularly as production schedules become busier during the fall months.

This World Rabies Day, let’s continue working together to protect both animals and people—because we’re always Stronger Together.