Onondaga County Health Department is nationally accredited and meets rigorous public health standards necessary to best serve the needs of our community.
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. The Onondaga County Health Department's 2023 Rabies Clinic schedule will be posted here and on social media when announced. Veterinarian offices and some local pet supply stores can also provide the shot, call ahead for more information.
Rabies Testing of Animals in Onondaga County*
Animal:
2021
2022
2023 to Date
# Positive
# Tested
# Positive
# Tested
# Positive
Bat
7
213
4
195
0
Cat
1
54
1
60
0
Dog
0
49
0
49
0
Skunk
4
18
2
27
0
Woodchuck
1
5
0
5
0
Raccoon
4
15
3
21
0
Fox
0
3
0
2
1
Other
0
5
1
12
0
Total
17
362
11
371
1
*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 PDF form.
