From the Harford County Health Department:
The Harford County Health Department is sponsoring its annual rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets that are 3 months old and over on Sunday, April 17th and Sunday, May 1st, 2011, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. As a continued incentive to pet owners to vaccinate their pets, the health department has kept the fee for the vaccination at the 2010 cost of $5.00 per animal.
Last year, the department vaccinated a total of 2,458 dogs, cats and ferrets at its clinics. Harford County Health Officer Susan Kelly states, “As the economy continues to struggle, we believe that concerned pet owners continue to look for value and find it with the Health Department’s $5.00 shot that protects their pets against this deadly disease.”
Over the past three years, only 11 rabies-positive animals were identified in 2010, compared to 16 in 2009 and 23 in 2008. About 75% of these positive animals were raccoons, which typically provide the highest risk and most common exposure route to domesticated animals. Most recently, three (3) rabies positive raccoons have already been documented in the first 2 months of this year. In all three of these cases pets were exposed to the raccoon but the pet was adequately protected because it was vaccinated.
Ms. Kelly elaborated, “We have seen similar cyclical trends in the past. Confirmation of three rabies positive animals so early in the year reminds us of how rapidly the trend can change and how quickly the number of positive animals can increase. Pet owners must remain vigilant in vaccinating all of their pets, since this is our best defense against rabies.”
The observance of the 2011 Easter holiday has presented the Health Department with some unique scheduling challenges for the rabies clinics. This year, the four clinics that are normally held on the last Sunday of the month will be held a week earlier. Clinics that are normally conducted on the first Sunday in May will maintain their normal schedule of May 1, 2011.
Health Department pet rabies vaccination clinics will be conducted from 2:00 until 4:00P on the following dates and locations:
Sunday, April 17, 2011:
– Abingdon Fire Company — 3308 Abingdon Rd., Abingdon
– Darlington Volunteer Fire Dept. — 1209 Castleton Rd. (near intersection of Rts. 1 & 623), Darlington
– Harford County Equestrian Center (parking located at 702 N. Tollgate Rd.)
– Susquehanna Hose Company — Intersection of Revolution St. and Bloomsbury Ave., Havre de Grace
– Whiteford Volunteer Fire Department — Route 165, Whiteford
Sunday, May 1, 2011:
– Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Dept. — Corner of Rogers & Franklin Sts., Aberdeen
– Darlington Volunteer Fire Dept. — 1209 Castleton Rd. (near intersection of Rts. 1 & 623), Darlington
– Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Dept. — 3825 Federal Hill Rd., Jarrettsville
– Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Dept. — Rte. 7 & Mountain Rd. (Route 152), Joppa
Pet owners wishing to take advantage of the clinics and to save time are encouraged to download vaccination forms, available online at the health department’s website at www.harfordcountyhealth.com. Forms must be completed using a ball-point pen and brought along with the pet to the clinic. In order for pets to be vaccinated at the clinic sites, dogs must be on a leash while cats and ferrets should be secured in cages. No animals other than dogs, cats, and ferrets will be vaccinated. Certificates given at the clinics provide necessary proof of vaccination for dog licensing in Maryland.
For more information about the clinics, please call the Health Department at 410-877-2300 or visit the Harford County Health Department website at www.harfordcountyhealth.com.
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