Fort Myers, Florida, 5/30/01—Lee County Animal Services and local veterinarians will hold a Rabies Vaccination Clinic Saturday, June 9, 2001. The clinic will take place at the Lee County Animal Services Shelter at 5600 Banner Drive in Fort Myers from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

In the past week three dogs and one cat were attacked by raccoons in Lee County. One of the raccoons was located and tested positive for rabies. This follows four other incidences over the past three months where two raccoons, a bat, and a cat also tested positive for rabies.

Lee County Animal Services and the Lee County Health Department are extremely concerned about the number of positive rabies cases and the number of dogs and cats in Lee County that are not vaccinated. To address this serious threat to public health, it is imperative that pet owners have their animals vaccinated. Pet owners whose pets are not current on rabies vaccinations should see their veterinarian without delay. To provide additional opportunities for the public, Animal Services in cooperation with local veterinarians is holding the Rabies Clinic. Rabies vaccinations will be offered for $5.00 and the county license, required by law, is also $5.00.

Rabies is a fatal virus, which attacks the central nervous system and can affect all mammals including humans. Vaccinated animals are protected against rabies and only need to receive a booster following an attack. Unvaccinated animals have no protection against the fatal disease and therefore pose a health risk to other animals as well as to humans. Lee County Ordinance 98-10 requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets four months of age or older to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.

For more information about rabies, how to avoid an animal bite, or to report a bite, contact Lee County Animal Services at (941) 432-2083.