Free Rabies Clinic in the Town of Porter

The Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) is holding a FREE rabies clinic at the Town Porter Highway Garage, 1800 Braley Road, Town of Porter on:

Saturday April 9, 2022 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. 

Please note these hours have changed to afternoon (from previous postings) in order to accommodate staffing.

All appointments are by reservation only and registration will open after 10:00am on Monday, April 4.

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 439-7444 for registration assistance.  Please note that once appointment slots have filled, registration for this event will close.

Rabies Vaccination Clinics are operated as “drive-through” events where you will remain in your car until you reach the vaccination station, and you will exit with your pet to the Veterinarian at the designated time.

New York State requires all residents to maintain an active rabies vaccination in your dog, cat, or ferret.

The animals’ 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 screens.
  • 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.

Bat rabies continues to be of particular concern.Niagara County residents must remain aware of the risk for rabies from any contact with a bat.Once illness occurs, rabies is almost always fatal. However, timely and complete post-exposure treatment is effective at preventing illness from occurring.If you find a bat in 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.

For more information on bat rabies to include instruction on proper capturing and containment of a bat for testing, go to: https://www.niagaracounty.com/health/Services/Environmental-Health/Pest-Control/Bats

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the Niagara County Department of Health Environmental Division at 439-7444.  Further information on rabies can be obtained from the Niagara County Department of Health at 439-7444 or www.niagaracounty.com/health