Vaccines: Rockland Offers Free Rabies Shots For Pets

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — County officials want to protect people and pets from rabies. There is a vaccine, and it is available free for cats, dogs, and ferrets July 14 at the Rockland County Fire Training Center.

WHAT: Free rabies shots for pets

WHERE: 35 Firemen's Memorial Drive in Pomona (in the garage next to the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off site)

WHEN: , from 10 AM until 1 PM July 14

No appointment is needed. The shots are free, however a $5 donation per animal will help defray our costs.

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife, and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.

"Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health problem in Rockland County. We remind all residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date," said County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

To get a free rabies shot:
• Your dog, cat or ferret must be healthy
• Your pet must be older than three months
• Your dogs must be on a leash
• Your cats and ferrets must be on a leash or in a top-opening container

New York State law requires that all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets be vaccinated against rabies by four months of age. Owners can be fined up to $250 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up to date. If an unvaccinated pet, or one that's overdue on its vaccination, comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the pet must either be destroyed or strictly quarantined for six months. Vaccinated animals that come in contact with wild animals can be given booster vaccinations, but these shots must be given within five days of exposure.

The CDC says:

• Every 10 minutes, someone in the US is treated for possible exposure to rabies.
• About 5,000 animals — mostly wildlife — test positive for rabies each year in the US.
• 7 out of 10 Americans who die from rabies in the US were infected by bats.

For more information on animal rabies or the vaccine call the Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2594.