FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2023
Contact: Beth Cefalu, Director of Strategic Communications (845) 638-5645

Health Department Offers Free Rabies Shots for Cats, Dogs, And Ferrets on Sunday, October 1, 2023

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

NEW CITY, NY, - The Rockland County Department of Health announces free rabies shots (vaccinations) are available for cats, dogs, and ferrets belonging to Rockland residents by appointment only on Sunday, October 1, 2023, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, 35 Firemens Memorial Drive in Pomona. An appointment is required for each animal. Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. The shots are free; however, a $5 donation per animal will help defray our costs.

To register for an appointment, please visit http://rcklnd.us/rabiesvax. For assistance making an appointment, call (845) 364-2656. Please check Facebook.com/rocklandgov for weather-related cancellations before arrival.

"Prevention is the best medicine! We remind all Rockland County residents to ensure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that their animal's vaccinations are kept up-to-date. Animal rabies is a life-threatening contagious disease that is almost always fatal," said Mandar Mhatre, Public Health Technician II, Rabies Program Coordinator.

To get a free rabies shot for your pet:
• Your dog, cat, or ferret must be healthy.
• Your pet must be older than three months.
• Your dog must be on a leash.
• Your cat or ferret must be on a leash or in a carrier.

New York State law requires that 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.

All animal bites and animals suspected of having rabies must be reported to The Rockland County Health Department at (845) 364-2656. After hours, callers should contact the sheriff at (845) 364-8600.

"Please take advantage of this free opportunity to get your dog, cat, or ferret vaccinated against rabies to protect them and the other members of your family from this disease," said County Executive Ed Day.

For more information on animal rabies or the rabies vaccine, call the Rockland County Department of Health at (845) 364-2656 or visit our website: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/environmental-health/rabies/.