A Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health rabies vaccination clinic will be held Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Portland Highway Barn at 1934 Route 20, Brocton.

Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older.

The Town of Portland will sponsor the event and Dr. Greg Hoyt will be the attending veterinarian.

Unvaccinated people must wear facemasks. Follow all COVID-19 and social distancing measures established by the Town of Portland. Pet owners must bring previous rabies vaccination records for each animal receiving a shot to ensure proper and effective vaccination; clinic staff will confirm previous rabies vaccination records. To reduce the risk of animals escaping from pet owners and animal handlers, all dogs must be on a leash (small dogs may be in a carrier) and all cats must be in carriers (with one cat per carrier).

State Public Health Law requires each dog, cat, and domesticated ferret over the age of four months be vaccinated against rabies and county residents are encouraged to be responsible pet owners by having their pets vaccinated. Pets are able to receive the rabies vaccine when they are 3 months of age.

Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes are common disease carriers. The virus is transmitted to humans and animals through saliva and it can enter the body from a bite, scratch, scrape or open cut. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system and can cause brain swelling and ultimately death within days of the onset of symptoms.

For more information about the clinic and rabies in general, visit chqgov.com/environmental-health/rabies-prevention