The May 19th Rabies Clinic sponsored by NCCR and the Town of Westfield was a great success.  93 dogs and 208 cats were vaccinated.  This is up from last years clinic where a total of 222  (60 cats and 162 dogs) were vaccinated.

Vaccinations were provided free of charge to all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older. New York State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat and domesticated ferret over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and county residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by having their pets vaccinated.

Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes are the common disease carriers. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through saliva and it can enter the body from a bite, scratch, scrape or open cut. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause brain swelling and ultimately death within days of the onset of symptoms. Injured from a dog bite? The personal injury lawyers from Kogan & DiSalvo law firm can help.

For more information about the clinics and rabies in general, visit www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/243/Environmental-Health or contact the Division of Public Health at (716) 753-4481.