Bring Your Pet to the Parish Rabies Vaccination Clinic Sept. 10

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Health Department holds a rabies vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the county’s highway garage located at 24 Dill Pickle Alley in Parish. The clinic will be open by appointment only from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Rabies is a viral disease which is nearly always fatal,” said Oswego County Director of Environmental Health Katelyn Parkhurst. “Keeping your pet up to date on their vaccinations is the most effective way to protect them and your family.”

All clinics will be held by appointment only from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Due to the limited number of spots available, appointments must be scheduled in advance and those who are unable to keep theirs are asked to call and cancel, so that others can have the opportunity.

Starting on Wednesday, Sept. 3, residents can call 315-349-3564 to make an appointment for the Sept. 10 clinic. Appointments will be scheduled clinic by clinic, with phone lines opening exactly one week prior. Announcements will be made before each clinic, reminding residents when the appointment phone line will open.

There is a suggested donation of $7 per pet.

The following protocols will be in effect at all clinics:

• Do not attend the clinic if you or your pet are ill.
• There is a limit of four pets per family. Only the individuals handling the animals should attend the clinic. Young children are not recommended to enter the building unless absolutely necessary. If children are left in the car, they should be properly supervised.
• People must control their pets at all times. Pets must be caged and/or leashed with a fixed length no longer than six feet. Cats and ferrets should be in a carrier.
• Attendees are asked to arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their appointment and follow signs and instructions from clinic staff.

New York State Public Health Law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies, with the first vaccine given at three months of age. Dogs and cats require a second vaccination within one year of the first, and every three years thereafter. Ferrets must be vaccinated annually. Animals under three months of age cannot receive a rabies vaccination.

All incidents involving a bite or scratch from either a domestic animal or wildlife should be reported to the Oswego County Health Department as soon as possible. To report an incident or to seek guidance concerning potential exposures to rabies, call 315-349-3557, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or 315-341-0086 after regular business hours, weekends and holidays. Health Department staff will determine if exposure to rabies may have occurred.

Please do not call the after-hours number to make a rabies vaccination appointment. Use it only for incidents involving potential exposure.

Additional information about rabies can be found at https://health.oswegocounty.com/programs/environmental1/rabies_program2.php and www.cdc.gov/rabies.

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