If you haven’t had your pet vaccinated against rabies, you can do it FREE of charge on April 23 in New Rochelle.
County residents are invited to bring their dogs, cats, and ferrets to the Stamen Animal Hospital for the free vaccine. Appointments are required, cats and ferrets must be in carriers, dogs must be on a leash, and aggressive dogs must be muzzled. All pets must be supervised by an adult.
Not only are rabies vaccines essential for the health of your pet, New York State law requires pet owners to schedule their dogs and cats for their first rabies vaccine before they are 4 months old. A second rabies shot must be given within a year of the first, and boosters should be given every year or three years (depending on the vaccine used) thereafter. Owners can be fined up to $2,000 for failing to keep up with their pets’ vaccinations.
Rabies is nothing to mess around with. It’s a fatal disease that is spread through the saliva of infected animals. Though the most common rabid animals are wild animals like raccoons, bats, foxes, and skunks, domestic animals are at risk for rabies because they can be bitten by a rabid stray or wild animal.
“Vaccinating your pet against rabies will protect your pet and your family” in the event of exposure, says Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD. If a vaccinated pet (whose vaccinations are up to date) is exposed to a potentially rabid animal, a booster shot within five days of exposure will keep the pet from contracting the disease. However, if your pet is not up to date with rabies vaccinations, he or she would have to be quarantined and possibly euthanized if exposed to the disease.
Free Rabies Vaccinations
Date: Sunday, April 23
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Stamen Animal Hospital, 61 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle
Contact: 914.632.1269
Special Instructions: Appointments are required. All pets must be supervised by an adult. Dogs must be on a leash and aggressive dogs must be muzzled. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers.
For More Info on Rabies and Prevention: www.westchestergov.com/health.
