Nearly 100 local cats and dogs received their rabies vaccinations on April 1 at the Ancram Town Highway Garage.
The free clinic was sponsored by the Columbia County Department of Health. Maggie McBroom, who serves as the department’s environmental health director, said four such clinics are held in various locations throughout the year, all of them well attended. Clinics will be held in Germantown, Ghent and Kinderhook later this year.
Dr. Mark Henderson, a local large animal veterinarian, volunteered his time along with assistant Carol Card. Cats and dogs were treated during separate blocks of time. Ferrets, despite being eligible for the shots, were a notable no-show.
Dutchess County will hold a free rabies clinic in Red Hook on April 30 at the Red Hook Town Hall from 8 a.m. to noon. Reservations can be made by calling 845-452-7722, ext. 425.
Vaccinations are free for all county residents; for non-residents, there is a charge of $10.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is fatal if untreated. It is most often seen among raccoons, bats, foxes, and other wild animals.
New York state requires that all cats, dogs, and domestic ferrets receive their first rabies vaccinations by 4 months of age and be regularly revaccinated to guarantee continued immunity.