Free Vaccines For Dogs, Cats, And Ferrets Will Be Offered June 13 At Brookhaven Animal Shelter

BROOKHAVEN, NY — Free rabies vaccinations will be offered June 13 for dogs, cats, and ferrets on June 13 at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Brookhaven.

The event, co-sponsored by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 300 Horseblock Road.

Although the clinic is available to all Suffolk residents, the quantity of vaccines is limited, and are available while supplies last.

All dogs must be on a leash, and all cats and ferrets must be in carriers.

Rabies, a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system, is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies.

Pets and livestock can contract rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect them against infection.

New York state and county laws require all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinating pets not only provides protection for the animals but also acts as a barrier to keep the rabies virus from spreading between wild animals and people.

Three to six percent of bats tested annually are positive for rabies.

The county's health department recommends the following precautions to protect your pets and your family from possible exposure to rabies:

• Do not feed, touch, or approach wild animals, or stray dogs or cats.
• Be sure your pet dogs, cats, and ferrets as well as horses, and other livestock animals, are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
• Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors and allowed outside only under direct observation.
• Keep family pets indoors at night. Do not leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
• Do not attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed or other foods that may attract wild animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cover or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch, or garage. Cap your chimney with screens.
• Do not transport or relocate any wild animals.
• Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.

Techniques to keep bats from getting into buildings include:

• Not leaving unscreened doors or windows open to the outside
• Making sure windows have screens, chimneys are capped, and electrical and plumbing openings are plugged
• Sealing openings larger than a half inch
• Using materials such as expanding spray-on foam, caulk, wire mesh, wood that fits tightly, steel wool (around pipes that enter buildings), or polypropylene bird netting, to seal or cover gaps and holes

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the county at 631-854-0333, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or 631-852-4820, outside of business hours. If possible, try to contain the animal so that it can be tested.