April 14, 2023

The Oswego County Overall health Division received notice of the initial 3 rabies good animals in 2023. Raccoons in the towns of Oswego and Richland along with a fox in the town of Granby have tested good for the virus.

The overall health division reminds residents of the dangers of the rabies illness and encourages pet owners to take benefit of the department’s rabies vaccination clinics.

“The rabies virus remains active year-round, but activity increases as the climate warms and wild animals develop into far more active,” stated Oswego County Director of Environmental Overall health Katelyn Parkhurst. “It’s vital to keep in mind that rabies is virtually constantly fatal to mammals if left untreated. The most helpful way to safeguard you and your household against rabies is by vaccinating your pets.”

The subsequent clinic will be held on Wednesday, Might three from six to eight p.m. at the Pulaski DPW Garage, positioned at 957 Centerville Rd. in Pulaski.

Starting Wednesday, April 26, residents can contact 315-349-3564 to make an appointment for the Might three clinic. All through the year, appointments will be scheduled clinic-by-clinic and an announcement for the opening of the appointment telephone line will be created ahead of every clinic.

The appointment telephone line will be open weekdays amongst 9 a.m. and four p.m. till all appointments are filled. Please do not contact the right after-hours answering service to schedule an appointment for the rabies clinic.

These who are unable to preserve their appointment are asked to contact back and cancel it, so that other people might have the chance to schedule a single of the restricted appointments.

In 2022, Oswego County Overall health Division employees:

• vaccinated 1,437 cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies.
• confirmed six good situations of rabies which includes two bats, two foxes and two raccoons.
• supplied 47 folks in Oswego County with post-exposure rabies remedies.
• submitted 72 animals to the state overall health division to be tested for rabies.

“This previous year, our overall health division responded to 669 calls involving probable rabies incidents,” stated Oswego County Public Overall health Director Vera Dunsmoor. “We urge residents to contact us quickly if they suspect prospective rabies exposure. Our employees performs diligently alongside veterinary care providers to ascertain the very best method in the course of these investigations.”

Rabies vaccination clinics are carried out for dogs, cats and ferrets. All clinics are on Wednesday evenings from six to eight p.m. Upcoming clinics will be held at the following areas:

• Might 17: County Highway Garage, 24 Dill Pickle Alley, Parish.
• June 7: Hastings Town Highway Garage, Wilson Rd., Central Square.
• July 12: Granby Town Highway Garage, 820 Co. Rte. eight, Fulton.
• 9: Bristol Hill Landfill Facility, upkeep constructing, 3125 NYS Rte. three, Fulton.
• 13: County Highway Garage, 957 Centerville Rd., Pulaski
• 11: County Highway Garage, 31 Schaad Dr., Oswego.

There is a recommended donation of $7 per animal.

Pets need to be at least 3 months of age to be vaccinated. These getting their initial rabies shot need to get a booster shot inside a single year.

Proof of prior vaccination is necessary to qualify for a 3-year certificate. Accepted types of proof contain a certificate of vaccination obtained from a veterinarian or the Oswego County Overall health Department’s Environmental Division, or a dog license displaying rabies expiration date.

The following protocols will be in impact at all clinics:

• Do not attend the clinic if you or your pet are ill.
• There is a limit of 4 pets per household. Only the men and women handling the animals really should attend the clinic. Young kids are not advised to enter the constructing unless totally needed. If kids are left in the vehicle, they really should be correctly supervised.
• Individuals need to manage their pets at all instances. Pets need to be caged and/or leashed with a fixed length no longer than six feet. Cats and ferrets really should be in a carrier.
• Attendees are asked to arrive no far more than ten minutes early to their appointment and comply with indicators and guidelines from clinic employees.

All animal bites, whether or not from a domestic animal or wildlife, really should be reported to the Oswego County Overall health Division as quickly as probable. Overall health Division employees will operate with residents and overall health care providers to ascertain if rabies remedy is required.

To report an animal bite or seek guidance regarding prospective exposures to rabies, contact the Oswego County Overall health Division at 315-349-3557, weekdays from eight:30 a.m. to four p.m. or at 315-341-0086 right after frequent small business hours, weekends and holidays. Please do not contact the right after-hours quantity to make a rabies vaccination appointment. Use it only for incidents involving prospective exposure.

For far more info about rabies, go to www.cdc.gov/rabies or  https://overall health.oswegocounty.com/applications/environmental1/rabies_program2.php.