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Free rabies clinics to wrap up in Cheektowaga

by jmaloni

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Wed, Sep 23rd 2015 03:45 pm

The Erie County Department of Health has announced the final free rabies clinic for 2015 will be held tonight, from 4-7 p.m., at the Erie County Fire Training Academy, 3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga (near Union Road).

Five heavily attended clinics have been held thus far in 2015, resulting in the vaccination of well over 2,000 animals. The popular 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. Free rabies vaccinations are provided to dogs, cats and ferrets.

In January, an indoor-clinic record 620 animals received rabies vaccinations at a free clinic held in North Buffalo, and more than 800 animals were vaccinated at a Sept. 9 rabies clinic held in the Town of Tonawanda.

As of Sept. 15, 12 raccoons have tested positive for rabies in Erie County, along with 11 bats, one cat, one fox and one skunk.

Pet owners are reminded to bring their pet's vaccination records to the clinic. They are also reminded the law requires pets to be immunized against rabies. It is equally important that "indoor" or "indoor/outdoor" cats be vaccinated against rabies as there is no way to ensure any cat will be 100 percent free of potential rabies exposure.

In addition, bats, which have a high incidence of rabies, commonly find their way into homes through small openings while raccoons can find ways inside buildings in a search for food.

For more information on the ECDOH rabies, disease and vector control program, visit http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=vector-control-program.

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