CHENANGO COUNTY – Any wild animal acting strangely in close proximity to residential areas should be considered dangerous.

To protect yourself, your family, and your pets please take the following precautions:

Vaccinate your pets for rabies. Pet dogs and cats should be up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and dogs should be wearing current license tags on their collar. For information on rabies vaccination for your pets, please call your local veterinarian or Chenango County Environmental Health at 607-337-1673.

If your pet has interaction with any rabies suspect animal do not handle your pet. If you must attend to your pet wear gloves, long sleeves and use extreme caution. You can be exposed to rabies from lingering saliva on a pet’s fur. The pet should be isolated and the saliva allowed to dry, this will kill the virus.

Keep pets on a leash when outside a fenced yard.

Enjoy wildlife from a distance. Do not attempt to feed, approach, or touch wild animals. Do NOT kill healthy appearing animals merely due to this warning. If you see a wild mammal acting abnormally in this area, report it to Chenango County Environmental Health at 607-337-1673.

Do not trap and relocate skunks. Doing so spreads rabies to other areas. If you have a nuisance animal contact a professional wildlife control agent.

If you or a loved one is bitten by an animal (wild or domestic), wash the exposed site immediately with soap and water and seek medical care. Be sure to report the bite to public health officials.

Note: Rabid animals may show no fear of people and may even seem friendly.

Rabid bats typically fall to the ground where they become accessible to kids and pets. For more information about rabies please call Chenango County Environmental Health at 607-337-1673.

Rabies Clinics

Dog, cat, and ferret owners, Chenango County Rabies Clinics scheduled for:
October 29th, 2022 – Sherburne Bus Garage – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
November 17th, 2022 – N. Norwich Town Garage – 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
December 10th, 2022 – South New Berlin Fire Dept. – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Pre-registration is required. To register visit: http://health.ny.gov/go2clinic

New York State Public Health Rabies Law requires all dogs, cats, and domesticated ferrets to receive immunization against Rabies no later than four months of age.
When attending a rabies clinic, pets must be under control. Dogs must be on a leash. Cats and ferrets must be contained in a box, crate, pillowcase, or other container. Animals vaccinated for the first time must be re-vaccinated the following year.
Please bring previous vaccination records to qualify your pet for 3-year certificate.
Please read the following information:Pets must be pre-register for the clinic. If you have difficulty registering for the clinic, please call the Chenango County Environmental Health offices at (607) 337-1673 for assistance.

The clinic will be drive through for checking in, but the animals will need to be removed from the vehicle to receive the vaccination. Please limit passengers to only those necessary to control the animal(s) (children should be left at home if possible). Please bring proof of previous vaccinations with you to the clinic. A $5 donation per animal is suggested.
If you have any questions, please contact the Chenango County Department of Public Health, Environmental Division at 607-337-1673 or visit the website www.co.chenango.ny.us

– Information from Chenango County Department of Health