Onondaga County Health Department is nationally accredited and meets rigorous public health standards necessary to best serve the needs of our community.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, our rabies shot clinics are on hold until further notice. Safe and socially-distanced drive-thru clinics will be announced here and on our Facebook page beginning this spring. Veterinarian offices and some local pet supply stores can also provide the shot, call ahead for more information.
Provides services in the following areas:
Rabies shot clinics for dogs, ferrets, and cats
Animal bite follow-up to ensure people with animal contact have proper follow-up through confinement and examination of animals or testing of specimens for rabies
Enforcement of rabies vaccination law
Education of the public and agencies on rabies prevention and animal disease prevention
Rabies Shot Clinics
New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get their first rabies shot at three months of age, a booster shot at one year old, and then again every three years. Ferrets must get a shot every year.
Rabies Testing of Animals in Onondaga County*
Animal:
2019
2020
2021 to Date
# Positive
# Tested
# Positive
# Tested
# Positive
Bat
7
233
4
226
1
Cat
2
64
1
49
1
Dog
0
81
1
53
0
Skunk
1
3
2
6
0
Woodchuck
0
1
0
0
0
Raccoon
1
4
6
10
2
Fox
1
1
1
2
0
Other
0
11
0
2
0
Total
12
398
15
348
4
*There were no reported human cases of rabies in Onondaga County during this time period.
Animal Bites
Health Care Providers
All animal bites involving a person must be reported to the Health Department within 72 hours using our online form or download a printable form.
