New Public Health Rabies Law & Notice Of Rabies Vaccination Clinic
BINGHAMTON, NY - In July 2002, Governor Pataki signed into law changes to the Rabies Public Health Law. The new statute will expand and strengthen the Public Health Law to protect the public from the hazards associated with wildlife rabies. The changes in the law were made because of the spread of rabies in New York State and the United States since the existing law was enacted in the 1940's. The new law became effective November 20, 2002.
Under the new law, every domesticated ferret must be actively immunized against rabies by four months after birth. The law still requires that all dogs and cats in Broome County be actively immunized. This law applies even to "indoor" cats because they may be exposed to bat rabies while in the house.
Owners must provide a "Certificate of Immunization" signed by a veterinarian, if requested by authorities. An owner means any person keeping, harboring, or having charge or control of, or permitting any cat, dog or domesticated ferret to remain on or be lodged or fed within such person's house, yard, or premises. If you feed a stray cat, you are considered the owner. Under the new law, an animal that has not been actively immunized against rabies at the time it bites a person must be confined, at the owner's expense, in a shelter, veterinarian's office, kennel or farm, for 10 days.
The new law also requires that Rabies Clinics be held every four months within each county. A Rabies Vaccination Clinic will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2002 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the Robinson Street Fire Station, 176 Robinson Street, (corner of Louisa Street), in the City of Binghamton. Rabies vaccination will be provided to dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets of Broome County residents. The Front Street Dog Shelter Alliance in conjunction with the Broome County Health Department will offer the clinic. Vaccinations are available at no cost, but a $5.00 donation is requested. All animals must be under the control of the owner at the clinic. Please bring a Certificate of Immunization for previously immunized animals. For questions about the clinic, please call 607.754.4126.
This is a good chance to get your pet dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies and meet the requirements of the new law. To hear recorded information about the new Rabies Law, call the Broome County Health Department Information Line at 607.778.3911, option 1. For questions about rabies, call the Broome County Division of Environmental Health Services at 607.778.2887, option 1. To report human and animal rabies exposures, during business hours call 607.778.2887, option 1 and after business hours and weekends call 607.778.1911.
CONTACT:
Robert Denz, Environmental Health Services Division Director,
Broome County Health Department, 607.778.2802
email: rdenz
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