Phone: 315-786-3730
Fax: 315-779-8607
Thursday, September 21st 5:00 - 7:00pm at Jefferson County Dog Control
Thursday, September 28th 6:00 - 8:00pm at Philadelphia Town Barn
Thursday, October 19th 5:00 - 7:00pm at Jefferson County Dog Control
NYS public health law requires all dogs, cats and ferrets over 3 months of age be vaccinated against rabies. JCPHS offers 4 rabies vaccination clinics each spring at Jefferson County Dog Control, and several clinics each summer at various locations throughout Jefferson County. If you cannot attend any of these clinics, you may contact your local pet supply store as they usually offer low-cost vaccinations.
Rabies is a viral disease which almost always leads to death, unless treatment is given soon after exposure to the virus. Only mammals can get rabies. Most cases of rabies occurs in skunks, raccoons, bats, coyotes and foxes.
Rabies control encompasses exposure follow-ups for humans and domestic animals through contact investigations, pre and post-exposure treatments, animal confinements and quarantines, laboratory specimen submissions, vaccination clinics for domestic animals, and community education.
An exposure includes: a bite, an open wound exposure, or a mucous membrane exposure. If there is no exposure to you or your pet and you would like help removing the animal, you may call the Watertown Department of Conservation office at 315-785-2239 for a current list of Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.
Domestic Animal Bites/Exposures
If your pet bites someone or you are bitten:
Wild Animal Bites/Exposures
Bats
If you wake up and find a bat in your room, you should try to catch the bat to have it tested. You should also catch a bat if you find a bat in a room with an unattended child, or near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person. Bats have very small teeth, so they may not be aware if they’ve been bitten. Call JCPHS to determine if the bat needs to be tested for rabies.
Protect Yourself Against Rabies