Erie County: More than 900 animals vaccinated at free rabies clinic

Event at ECC South Campus provides pet protection; boosts May vaccination total past 1,800

The Erie County Department of Health announced 965 animals were vaccinated at the most recent rabies clinic, held Wednesday, May 27, at Erie Community College South Campus. That number included 746 dogs, 212 cats and seven ferrets.

A clinic held May 20 at the Broadway Market in Buffalo also vaccinated 900 animals (a record for that site). The total number of free rabies vaccinations administered in May was 1,865.

"The Erie County Department of Health and their partners are doing an outstanding job in providing this vital service, keeping pets and their owners safe from rabies at no cost. I thank them on behalf of all residents, and their pets, for working so diligently on these popular free clinics," Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said. "When combined with the clinic held in January, nearly 2,500 animals have received free rabies vaccinations in 2015 alone. That is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the good work the team is doing."

In January, an indoor-clinic record 620 animals received rabies vaccinations at an event held in North Buffalo. The clinics are conducted by the Erie County Department of Health in association with the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society, the Medaille College Veterinary Technology Program and the SPCA Serving Erie County.

In 2014, 30 animals tested positive for rabies in Erie County, including 20 bats, six raccoons, two cats, one fox and one skunk. In 2015, five bats have tested positive for rabies along with five raccoons and one fox.

With the summer months approaching, residents are reminded to avoid wildlife no matter how tame animals may look, and to report strange animal behavior to the Erie County Department of Health at 716-961-6800.

Future clinics are scheduled for Sept. 9 in the Town of Tonawanda, Sept. 16 at ECC North, and Sept. 23 in Cheektowaga. For more information on the ECDOH rabies, disease and vector control program, visit http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=vector-control-program.