Intuition practically shouts “bad idea” to the decision by Big Butler Fair’s board of directors not to require rabies vaccinations for livestock at this year’s event.

So, let’s set aside intuition for a moment and consider the facts:

n The board says its took the step to align the fair with state regulation. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in 2015 reevaluated its interpretation of agricultural statutes. The PDA determined that the department could recommend rabies vaccinations and certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) for exhibiting livestock but not require them.

n The state still requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and CVIs for horses, according to PDA’s 2017 animal health rules for fairs, which were published in January. Moore said that most county fairs in the region continue to require CVIs and rabies vaccinations for animal exhibits.

n Rabies has never been an issue at the Big Butler Fair. There are no known cases of rabies in its 160 year history.

In light of these facts, you might determine the cost and bother of vaccination and CVI are unnecessary. Why not simply dispense with the requirement?

Maybe we don’t have all the facts. Here are a few more to consider:

- Statistics released in 2016 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Pennsylvania had an 11 percent increase in rabid animals from the previous year, making the state No. 2 for overall rabies cases and rabies in raccoons.

- The state is No. 3 for rabid wildlife, according to the CDC.

- Pennsylvania is No. 1 in the nation for domestic animals with rabies, including rabid cats — 62 percent more cats with confirmed cases than No. 2 Virginia.

- Pennsylvania has a high number of feral cats as well as unvaccinated barn cats.

- There were eight confirmed cases of rabies in Butler County in 2016: three raccoons, two bats, one cat, one skunk and one groundhog.

The statistics about cats are particularly disturbing. Domestic cats are in daily contact with barn livestock as well as with feral cats, rodents and raccoons. The potential for rabies spread is as great as it ever was.

Maybe the most important fact of all is that nobody has to worry about exhibit animals that have been vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinated animals are immune to rabies — can’t catch it, can’t spread it.

In previous years at the Big Butler Fair, with all the livestock vaccinated and certified, rabies wasn’t a worry for anyone.

That bit of security used to be a point of marketing for the fair. It isn’t that anymore.