County Offers Free Rabies Shots For Westchester Pets

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — Westchester County residents can bring their dogs, cats and ferrets in for free rabies vaccinations July 28 at the SPCA of Westchester.

“Vaccinating your pet against rabies will protect your pet and your family in case your pet has contact with a rabid or potentially rabid animal,” said Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD.

Cats and ferrets must be in carriers and dogs must be on a leash. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled. All pets must be supervised by an adult. No examinations will be given. .

• WHAT: Free rabies vaccinations for pet cats, dogs, ferrets
• WHEN: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 28
• WHERE: 590 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor
• HOW: Call 914-941-2896 ext. 10 to schedule a required appointment.

Under New York State law, dogs and cats must receive their first rabies vaccine no later than four months after birth. A second rabies shot must be given within one year of the first vaccine, with additional booster shots given every one or three years after that, depending on the vaccine used.

Owners who fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep the vaccinations up-to-date may be fined up to $2,000.

Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread through the bite or saliva of infected animals. Raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes are most commonly infected, but cats and dogs are also at risk because they can easily contract rabies from wild or stray animals.

A pet that is up-to-date with its rabies vaccinations would only need a booster dose of vaccine within five days of the pet’s exposure to a known or suspect rabid animal. Animals not up-to-date with rabies vaccinations must be quarantined or potentially euthanized following contact with a rabid or suspect-rabid animal.

Change in an animal’s behavior is often the first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may become abnormally aggressive or unusually tame. It may lose fear of people and become docile, or become excited and irritable. Staggering, spitting and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noted in infected animals. Adults should encourage children to avoid touching unfamiliar animals, and to immediately tell an adult if they have been bitten or scratched by an animal.

All animal bites or contacts with animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to the Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5000. After hours, callers should follow instructions in the recorded message for reporting public health emergencies 24 hours a day.

To learn more about rabies and its prevention, visit the Health Department’s website.

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