County To Offer Free Rabies Clinic
on Sunday, June 4th
Poughkeepsie…The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is again partnering with the Dutchess County SPCA to host a free rabies vaccine clinic for pets on Sunday, June 4th at the Town Center Park Pavilion located at 71 Town Center Blvd in Hopewell Junction from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free parking available on site. Registration is required, walk ins will not be accommodated. Registration will open on Wednesday, May 17th at DCSPCA.org. Registrations can also be made by calling the DCSPCA at 845-452-7722, x425.
The clinic will offer Dutchess County residents the opportunity to obtain rabies shots free of charge for their dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets 3 months of age and older. Proof of residency is required. Non-residents will be charged a fee of $10 per each pet vaccinated. All dogs must be on a leash, and cats and domestic ferrets must be in carriers. Vaccinations will be good for three years for pets with proper proof of prior immunization. For those without proof, the vaccination will be good for one year.
Rabies vaccines are required for all cats, dogs, and domestic ferrets by the age of four months by New York State law. Animals must always remain up to date on rabies shots. Vaccination is required on a regular schedule to keep the animal properly immunized against the rabies virus. Owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up to date.
Rabies vaccinations are important to protecting the health and well-being of a pet. If an animal that is unvaccinated or not up to date on its rabies vaccination fights with a rabid or suspect-rabid animal, the pet must be promptly destroyed or placed in quarantine for six months to protect other animals and people in case the pet develops rabies. These mandates do not apply to a vaccinated pet in the same situation. In such cases, only a booster dose of rabies vaccine would be given within five days to treat the pet.
The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health is available 24/7 to assist with any questions or concerns regarding potential rabies exposure to people or domestic animals. Pet owners should report to DCBH with any incident in which their pet has been bitten by or has an open wound exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a domestic or wild animal. Staff will investigate and advise the pet owner of any necessary steps they should take to ensure the safety of their animal.
DBCH ask residents that see an animal acting strangely to contact their local police agency. If a person has been bitten, or a domestic pet is bitten or is in contact with any animal, contact DBCH immediately at 845-486-3404 Monday through Friday 9AM-5PM, or 845-431-6465 on nights and weekends.
To learn more about rabies please visit www.dutchessny.gov/rabies or contact DBCH at HealthInfo@dutchessny.gov.
