What Pet
Owners Need to Know About Rabies Vaccinations in New York State
(Effective November 20, 2002, this information sheet must be
provided by pet dealers to consumers upon point of sale of cats, dogs, and
ferrets.)
State law requires rabies
vaccinations (shots) for all cats, dogs and domesticated ferrets! (Note: Ferrets are illegal in New York City.)
Where can I get my pet vaccinated?
All counties (excluding New York City
counties) are required to provide a free vaccination clinic every four months.
Contact your county health department for the schedule in your area. Rabies
vaccinations are also available from your veterinarian. If you have questions
about new vaccines developed specifically for cats and for pets at younger
ages, contact your veterinarian.
When should my pet receive its first rabies
vaccination?
The law requires that your pet's first rabies
vaccination be given no later than four months (three months in New York City)
after its date of birth. Many rabies vaccines are licensed for use at three
months, although some may be given at younger ages.
When should my pet receive its second rabies
vaccination?
Your pet should receive its second rabies
vaccination within one year after the first vaccination. The second rabies shot
and all shots thereafter are sometimes called booster
shots. After my pet gets its second rabies shot, when
is the next booster shot due?
After the second rabies shot, you need to get
additional booster shots either annually or every three years, depending on the type of vaccine administered.
What proof will I have that my pet received
its rabies shots?
The veterinarian, or a person under the
veterinarian's supervision, will provide you with a certificate as proof that
your pet has been vaccinated. The veterinarian's office will also keep a copy
of your pet's vaccination certificate. The law requires the veterinarian to
provide the vaccination certificate to any public health official for any case
involving your dog, cat or ferret that may have been exposed to rabies, or in
any case of possible exposure of a person or another animal to rabies.
What if my pet needs to be taken to the
veterinarian?
Whenever you bring your pet to a veterinarian,
s/he will verify if the animal is up-to-date on its rabies shots. If the animal
is not up-to-date on its rabies shots or exempt as stated below, or if the
veterinarian cannot find proof of the animal's rabies vaccination history, you
may request your pet be vaccinated at that time.
If my pet bites a person, does it have to be
euthanized (put to sleep)? *
If your pet bites a person and you wish to
avoid euthanizing and testing it for rabies, it must be confined and observed
for ten days. If your pet is not up-to-date on its rabies shots, the
ten-day confinement/observation period must take place, at the owner's expense,
at an appropriate facility such as an animal shelter, veterinarian's office, or
kennel. If your pet is up-to-date on its rabies shots, the county health
department may allow the ten-day confinement/observation period to take place
in your home. During the ten-day confinement period, the county or a designated
party must verify that your pet is under confinement and observation, has
remained healthy during and at the end of the ten-day period. (* In New
York City, ten-day observation periods may be done at the home of the pet
owner, regardless of the animal’s rabies vaccination status.)
Fines
If your dog, cat or domesticated ferret is not
vaccinated, is not up-to-date on its vaccinations, or is not properly confined
after biting someone, as the owner you shall be subject to a fine not to exceed
$200 for each offense. Additional fines may apply locally.
Exemptions
The vaccination requirements shall not apply
to any dog, cat, domesticated ferret if the animal is transported through New
York state and remains in the state 15 days or less; the animal is confined to
the premises of an incorporated society devoted to the care of lost, stray or
homeless animals; a licensed veterinarian has determined that the vaccination
will adversely affect the animal's health; the animal is confined to the
premises of a college or other educational or research institution for research
purposes; or if the animal is unowned (feral, wild, not socialized).
NYSDOH, 8/25/05
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