ISLIP, N.Y. — Suffolk County residents can receive free rabies vaccines for their pets over the weekend.
The Suffolk County Health Department will be offering free rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets in Islip and Bay Shore on Saturday.
Pet owners can bring their fur babies to Gardener County Park on Montauk Highway in Bayshore for a free rabies vaccination on Saturday, September 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. . For more information, call the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 631-382-7722.
Islip Animal Shelter will be offering free rabies vaccines on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 200 S. Technology Drive in Central Islip. For more information, residents can call Islip Animal Shelter at 631-224-5660.
The clinic is available to Suffolk County residents. However, the vaccine is limited in quantity and will only be available while supplies last.
All dogs must be on a leash and all cats and ferrets must be in a carrier bag.
Recently strengthened New York state law requires dogs and cats to receive their first rabies vaccine within four months of age. A second rabies booster should be given within one year of the first vaccination.
The rules require additional booster shots every one or three years thereafter, depending on the vaccine used. Pet owners who do not vaccinate their pets or keep their pets up to date with booster vaccinations could be fined up to $2,000 for the violation.
According to the DOH, rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Rabies primarily affects wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies.
Pets and livestock can contract rabies if they are not vaccinated to prevent infection.
According to the DOH, 3 to 6 percent of bats tested each year in Suffolk County test positive for rabies. In 2017, an otter tested positive for rabies.
The first sign of rabies is often a change in the animal’s behavior. Animals with rabies may become unusually aggressive or unusually docile. Infected animals may stagger, spit, or foam at the mouth.
All animal bites or contact with suspected rabid animals should be reported to the Suffolk County Health Department at 631-853-0333. If possible, house the animal so it can be examined.
Animal lovers can find the latest news and alerts about rabies incidents in Suffolk County on the health department’s website.
