The Rockland County Department of Health will offer free rabies shots for cats, dogs and ferrets on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rockland County Fire Training Center at 35 Firemen's Memorial Drive in Pomona.
No appointment is needed ad the shots are free. A requested $5 donation per animal will help defray the cost of the immunizations.
“Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health problem in Rockland County,” said County Commissioner of Health Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. “We remind all residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date.”
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To get a free rabies shot, pet owners must make sure their pet is healthy and older than three months. Dogs must be on a leash and cats and ferrets can either be on a leash or in a top-opening container
New York State law requires 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.
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If an unvaccinated pet or one whose vaccination is not current comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the pet must either be destroyed or strictly quarantined for six months. Vaccinated pets that come in contact with wild animals can be given booster vaccinations, but these shots must be given within five days of exposure.
Contact the Health Department for more information on animal rabies or the vaccine at 845-364-2594.
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