Long Island agencies offer free rabies shots after cats, raccoon test positive

Following two feral cats and a raccoon testing positive for rabies in Nassau County, Long Island agencies announced free pet vaccination clinics, the first of which was held Saturday.

On Friday, the Nassau County Department of Health said a feral cat and a raccoon, both collected in Valley Stream, tested positive for rabies. A month prior on July 25, the health department announced a feral cat collected in Cedarhurst also tested positive for the disease.

To protect house pets and prevent spreading the disease, the health department said all Nassau residents were welcome to vaccinate their pets for free at one of two pop-up clinics. The first was held Saturday at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. The second will be held at the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter on Sept. 14.

There will be rabies vaccinations for dogs, which must be leashed, as well as cats and ferrets, both of which must be in enclosed containers, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a Nassau health department news release.

The Suffolk County SPCA, Suffolk County Department of Health Services and Suffolk County Parks will offer free rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gardiner County Park, Montauk Highway, Bay Shore. That event will be held on World Rabies Day, a global initiative to raise awareness to eliminate rabies, according to an SPCA release.

Health officials in Nassau recommend that dogs, cats, and ferrets older than 4 months receive their first two shots one year apart and additional booster shots every three years thereafter.

In addition to keeping their pets up-to-date on their shots, residents should avoid feeding and contact with wild or feral animals; keep their pets indoors at night; and avoid touching dying or dead animals without safety precautions, such as using a shovel and heavy rubber gloves, health officials said.

The Suffolk SPCA said in its release that "New York State law requires that all domestic cats, dogs and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies after they turn 4 months old."

According to the Nassau release, rabies is a viral disease that is spread to humans and pets primarily through bites, scratches or salivary contact from an infected animal. Last month, Newsday reported that rabies cases have been rare in Nassau County in recent years. Since 2018, Nassau health officials had only detected cases of rabies in two bats.

Virtually all of the rabies cases on Long Island since 2016 have been detected in bats.

So far this year, Suffolk County has confirmed rabies cases in at least three bats.

Nassau County health officials will also “distribute rabies vaccine bait in Nassau County as a preventive measure to control rabies among wild animals,” according to the Nassau news release.

In Nassau, anyone bitten or scratched by any animal is urged to seek immediate medical care and then call the Nassau County Department of Health at 516-227-9663, or 516-742-6154 after hours. Residents should similarly report if their pets have been scratched or bitten. Dead, sick or abnormal acting animals can be reported to rabies@nassaucountyny.gov for possible collection and rabies testing.

For additional information in Suffolk, call the county SPCA at 631-382-7722.