Montco Offers Low-Cost Rabies Clinic

Montgomery County pet owners have one more chance to attend a low-cost rabies immunization clinic sponsored by the Montgomery County Health Department.

The final round of the 2012 series will be offered on Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Smith Family Plaza, in front of the Pottstown Borough Hall, 100 E. High St., Pottstown.

While they are welcome, all animals in attendance must be on a leash or in an approved pet carrier. Vaccination for rabies at the open event will cost $10.

According to Montgomery County Spokeswoman Jessica Willingham, last year 1,191 cats, dogs and ferrets were vaccinated at five rabies clinic sites in Montgomery County. According to the clinic's data, the following sites offered vaccines to area pets.

CLINIC SITE

2011

Abington

277

Collegeville

212

Harleysville

254

West Norriton

316

Pottstown

132

Total

1,191

Montgomery County had 1,522 animal bites reported in 2011. Of those, 1,119 were animal-to-human bites, while 162 were animal-to-animal, according to the Department of Health. Last year, there were also 241 cases of a domestic animal being wounded by an unknown origin, presumed to be a suspected rabid animal.

“Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system,” said Willingham. “It can affect all mammals, including man. Rabies is a fatal disease once symptoms appear.”

Rabies is spread via bites or breaks in the skin or through a mucous membrane. In Montgomery County, there have been cases found in raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, groundhogs, cats and dogs.

To meet legal requirements, all cats and dogs over age 3 months must have a vaccine for rabies. Both Pennsylvania State Law and a requirement of the Montgomery County Public Health Code require the vaccine for pets.

This year, so far, Montgomery County has had 13 reported cases of rabies including:

• 3 Raccoons: In Salford, Perkiomen and Towamencin townships
• 2 Skunks in Upper Merion and Upper Moreland townships
• 7 Bats in Horsham, Upper Merion, Lower Providence, Whitemarsh, Lower Merion and Upper Merion (2) townships
• 1 Cat in Lower Salford Township

For more information on the Montgomery County Health Department’s Animal Bite and Rabies Surveillance Program, contact the Division of Communicable Disease Control at 610-278-5117.