Niagara County Department of Health Hosting Free Rabies Clinic in the City of North Tonawanda
The Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) is holding a FREE rabies clinic at the City of North Tonawanda Public Works Department, 758 Erie Avenue, on:
Saturday December 10, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
All appointments are by reservation only. Please go to www.niagaracounty.com/health and click on the “Rabies Information” icon and follow the link under rabies clinic to register. Those unable to register online may call (716) 439-7444 for registration assistance. Please note that once appointment slots have filled,
registration for this event will close.
Rabies Vaccination Clinics have returned to “walk through” to accommodate as many pets/pet owners as possible. (We operated as “drive-through” clinic during COVID.)
New York State requires all residents to maintain active rabies vaccination for their dog, cat, or ferret. An animal’s first vaccination is valid for one year, and any subsequent vaccination provides protection for three years.
The Niagara County Department of Health would like to remind County residents of the following precautions to prevent exposure to rabies from wildlife and domestic animals:
- Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or feral cats.
- Be sure your dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinated pets serve as a buffer between rabid wildlife and humans. Protect pets with rabies vaccination to reduce your risk of exposure to rabies. Dogs and cats that receive their first rabies vaccine are protected for a one-year period. A dog or cat’s second and subsequent vaccination will protect from rabies for up to three years. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors. By law, all cats, dogs, and ferrets must have current rabies vaccinations from four months of age and on. The Niagara County Department of Health will conduct free rabies clinics and will post those dates on our website once the schedule is finalized.
- Keep family pets indoors at night. Do not leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
- Don’t attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods which may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cover, or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screen.
- Encourage children to immediately tell adults if they are bitten by any animals. Tell children not to touch any animals they do not know.
- If a wild animal is on your property, let it wander away. Bring children and pets indoors and alert neighbors that are outside. You may contact a nuisance wildlife control officer who will remove the animal for a fee; or if there is danger, you can call your local law enforcement agency.
- If your pet has been in a fight with another animal, wear gloves to handle it. Isolate it from other animals and people for several hours. Call your veterinarian. Your vaccinated pet will need a booster dose of rabies vaccine within five days of the exposure. Unvaccinated animals exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal must be confined for six months or humanely euthanized.
your home, it is important not to injure, release or discard it. Immediately contact the NCDOH-Environmental Health Division at (716) 439-7444 to discuss the specifics of the situation or occurrence.
Click here for more information on rabies.