“The best way to avoid potential exposure to rabies is to vaccinate your dogs and cats,” said Freeholder Jeff Pierson. An encounter with a potentially rabid animal can be fatal for your pet--particularly if your pet is not currently vaccinated--and puts your family in danger of being exposed to rabies,” he added.  Residents are advised to take precautions when coming into contact with wild animals, particularly raccoons. Rather than approach a wild animal, call your local animal control officer for assistance.

Health Officer, Kevin Thomas stated, “Rabies is a fatal disease in humans and any animal bite should be taken seriously.” The rabies virus is shed in the saliva of animals that are infected with the virus. If an animal bites you, wash the wound, seek medical attention immediately, and notify the Cape May County Department of Health and your municipal animal control agency. If you are exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal, you must receive rabies shots as soon as possible to prevent the disease. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, contact your veterinarian and the Department of Health right away.

State law requires all dogs 7 months and older to be licensed with your local municipality and rabies vaccination is a requirement for licensing. Most municipalities also have ordinances for cats. Many municipalities hold free or low-cost rabies vaccination clinics and rabies vaccine is also available from local veterinarians. Upcoming municipal rabies clinics include (call your municipality to confirm):

2018 FREE RABIES CLINIC SCHEDULE FOR CAPE MAY COUNTY

Upper Township:                                             

Shore Veterinary Animal Hospital                        January 20, 2018    1pm-3pm

73 Hope Corson Rd

Seaville, NJ                              

Dennis Township

571 Petersburg Road                                         January 27, 2018   1pm-3pm

Dennisville, NJ

Middle Township

Public Works Garage                                         January 27, 2018    2pm-3pm

400 W Mechanic Street

CMCH, NJ 08210

Ocean City

5^th Street Firehouse                                           January 27, 2018   10am-12pm

551 Asbury Avenue

Ocean City, NJ

North Wildwood

901 Atlantic Ave                                                February 10, 2018   1pm-2pm

N. Wildwood, NJ          

Upper Township:                                             

Shore Veterinary Animal Hospital                        February 17, 2018   1pm-3pm

73 Hope Corson Rd

Seaville, NJ

Sea Isle City

Former Public School

4501 Park Road                                                March 03, 2018    9am-10am

Sea Isle City, NJ                                                                     

Woodbine:

Woodbine Ambulance Building                           March 03, 2018     10am-12pm

DeHirsch Avenue

Woodbine, NJ  

Cape May Point

Public Works Building                                       March 27, 2018    4pm-5pm

801 Lighthouse Ave

Cape May Point, NJ

Lower Township

Public Works Building                                       April 14, 2018      9am-11am

2600 Bayshore Road

Villas, NJ

Middle Township

Public Works Garage                                         May 05, 2018                2pm-3pm

400 W Mechanic Street                                      September 29, 2018     2pm-3pm

CMCH, NJ 08210

For more information on animal rabies, go to: http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/rabies.shtml.  To receive information on public health news and local events, “like” the Cape May County Department of Health on Facebook.