Discount rabies vaccine available in Lynn today

LYNN – Rabies vaccines for dogs and cats will be administered at cost at three Lynn firehouses today.The Veterinary Association of the North Shore is providing vaccinations for $10 each at the Tower Hill, Broadway and Fayette Street fire stations from 4-6 p.m.Dogs or cats must be at least 12 weeks old to receive a rabies vaccination. If written proof of a previous rabies vaccination is provided, showing it was administered within the past 9-12 months, the vaccine available today will be valid for three years.Veterinarians at the clinics will distribute a certificate affirming the pet was vaccinated. Copies cannot be supplied should the certificate be lost.The vaccination fee can be paid by cash or with a check made payable to VANS. The payer’s phone number should be written on the check.The state Department of Public Health is urging pet owners to take advantage of the clinics because May is Rabies Awareness Month.”Rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through a bite or scratch from a rabid animal,” said DPH veterinarian Catherine Brown. “Human and pet exposures can be minimized by staying away from strays and wild animals, and by making sure that dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies.”According to Brown, since the beginning of the year, seven cats and one dog have tested positive for rabies in Massachusetts. More than 150 animals statewide tested positive for rabies in 2007, including 71 raccoons, 38 skunks, 29 bats, six cats, one coyote and a dog.Since 1992, more than 5,000 wild and domesticated animals have tested positive for rabies in Massachusetts.Indoor cats should also be vaccinated, Brown said.DPH officials recommend feeding pets indoors, keep pets inside at night, fasten trash can lids tightly, bat-proof your home by installing caps on chimneys while blocking openings in attics, cellars and porches.Animals behaving oddly should be reported to local animal control officers. Anyone scratched or bitten by a wild animal or a stray should seek medical attention.”It’s fortunate that we can treat a person who gets exposed to the rabies virus from developing the disease,” said Dr. Al DeMaria, director of the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control. “We have not had a human case of rabies in the state for many decades.”Anyone with questions about potential rabies exposure should call the DPH Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at 617-983-6800 or their local board of health.