With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) temporarily pausing tests for rabies and pox viruses, the family of viruses that includes smallpox and mpox, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/health/cdc-rabies-mpox-tests-paused.html states and local communities are stepping up prevention of and rapid response to these diseases.
The Westchester County Department of Health will sponsor a free rabies vaccine clinic for pets on Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stamen Animal Hospital, 61 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle.
Vaccines will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, but call ahead to 914-632-1269 so Stamen will have an accurate estimate of the number of cats, dogs or ferrets to be inoculated. Bring proof of prior rabies vaccination if available. An adult must supervise each pet. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers, dogs must be leashed and aggressive dogs must be muzzled. No examinations will be given.
Said Westchester County Department of Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, M.D.: “As spring warms up, people and their pets spend more time outdoors, and that brings increased chances of contact with feral cats or other animals that may carry rabies. To protect yourself and your family, verify that your pets’ rabies vaccines are up to date, and arrange for a free booster shot if needed. If you, your child or your pet are bitten or scratched by someone else’s pet, wash the wound right away, seek medical attention immediately, call the Health Department and get the name and address of the owner so that the biting pet’s rabies vaccine records can be verified. That way, the bite victim may be able to avoid a series of rabies shots.”
New York State law requires a first rabies shot for dogs and cats by four months of age, a second shot within one year of the first and boosters every one or three years, depending on the vaccine. Owners who fail to comply could face fines of up to $2,000.
Rabies is a fatal disease that spreads through bites or contact with saliva from infected animals. Rabies exposures have happened throughout Westchester, during encounters with stray and feral cats and kittens, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes and even a bear cub. Bats can also carry rabies. Cats and dogs are at risk because they can easily contract rabies through contact with wild or stray animals.
A change in an animal’s behavior is often the first sign of rabies. A rabid animal may be unusually aggressive, surprisingly tame or simply “off.” It may lose its fear of people, become docile and weak or excited and irritable. Infected animals sometimes stagger, spit and foam at the mouth.
A pet that is up to date with its rabies vaccinations would need only a booster dose of vaccine within five days of the pet’s exposure to a known or suspect rabid animal. Animals not up to date with rabies vaccinations would be quarantined or euthanized following contact with a rabid or suspect-rabid animal.
Never touch wild animals or unfamiliar cats and dogs – even if they appear sick, injured or tame – and teach your children not to do so, either. Many well-meaning animal lovers have put themselves at risk of rabies exposure by trying to help such animals. Residents who are concerned about an animal behaving erratically outdoors should avoid the animal and contact their local police department or animal control officer.
If your pet fights with another animal, wear gloves when handling your animal, call your veterinarian and the animal control officer in your community. If your pet is exposed to a suspect-rabid animal, try to keep the animal in sight until the police or a trapper arrives.
If your pet bites or scratches someone, confine your pet and call the Health Department immediately. Be sure to keep your pet’s rabies vaccinations current as required by state law, and call your vet to verify your pet’s vaccine records.
Report all bites to your doctor and to the Health Department at 914-813-5000. After hours, follow the recorded instructions to report a public health emergency.To learn more about rabies and its prevention, visit the Health Department’s website here.
