Residents are urged to vaccinate pets against rabies 

Cape May Court House – “The best way to avoid potential exposure to rabies is to vaccinate your dogs and cats,” said Cape May County Commissioner Jeff Pierson. An encounter with a potentially rabid animal can be fatal for your pet--particularly if your pet is not currently vaccinated--and puts your family in danger of being exposed to rabies,” he added. Residents are advised to take precautions when encountering wild animals, particularly raccoons. Rather than approach a wild animal, call your local animal control officer for assistance.

Health Officer, Kevin Thomas stated, “Rabies is a fatal disease in humans and any animal bite should be taken seriously.” The rabies virus is shed in the saliva of animals that are infected with the virus. If an animal bites you, wash the wound, seek medical attention immediately, and notify the Cape May County Department of Health and your municipal animal control agency. If you are exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal, you must receive rabies shots as soon as possible to prevent the disease. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, contact your veterinarian and the Department of Health right away.

State law requires all dogs seven months and older to be licensed with your local municipality and rabies vaccination is a requirement for licensing. Most municipalities also have ordinances for cats. Many municipalities hold free or low-cost rabies vaccination clinics and rabies vaccine is also available from local veterinarians. Upcoming municipal rabies clinics include (call your municipality to confirm):

CAPE MAY COUNTY 2022 FREE RABIES CLINICS    

                        Dennis Township 

                        571 Petersburg Road                                   February 12, 2022   1 P.M. – 3 P.M.

                        Dennisville, NJ 

             Upper Township

                        Shore Veterinary Hospital                           February 26, 2022   1 P.M. – 3 P.M.

                        73 Hope Corson Road

                        Seaville, NJ 

             Woodbine

                        Woodbine Ambulance Building                   March 05, 2022     10 A.M. – 12 P.M.

                        513 DeHirsch Avenue

                        Woodbine, NJ 

                        North Wildwood  

                        901 Atlantic Avenue                                     March 12, 2022      2 P.M. – 3 P.M.

                        North Wildwood, NJ 

                        Cape May City   

                        643 Washington street                                  March 16, 2022     5 P.M. – 6 P.M.

                        Cape May, NJ

                        Middle Township 

                        Public Works Building                                  March 19, 2022     2 P.M. – 3 P.M.

                        400 West Mechanic Street

                        CMCH, NJ

             Lower Township

                        Public Works Building                                   April 30, 2022      9 A.M. – 11 A.M.

                        771 Seashore Road

                        Erma, NJ 08204

                        Middle Township 

                        Public Works Building                             September 10, 2022   2 P.M. – 3 P.M.

                        400 West Mechanic Street

                        CMCH, NJ 

For more information on animal rabies, go to: http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/rabies.shtml. To receive information on public health news and local events, “like” the Cape May County Department of Health on Facebook.