MAYVILLE — The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health has announced the following free rabies vaccination clinics in Chautauqua County:

¯ Saturday, Aug. 18, from 8-11 a.m. at the Town of Hanover Highway Department, 11966 Hanover Road, Silver Creek. This clinic is sponsored by the Town of Hanover and the Village of Silver Creek. Dr. Katie Ball will be the attending veterinarian.

¯ Thursday, Aug. 23, from 5-7 p.m. at the Town of Ellington Highway Garage on East Main Street, Ellington. This clinic is sponsored by the Town of Ellington and Dr. Mary Fales will be the attending veterinarian.

¯ Saturday, Sept. 8, from 1-3 p.m. at the Town of Poland Highway Garage, 533 Grub Hill Road, Kennedy. This clinic is sponsored by the Town of Poland and Dr. Mary Fales will be the attending veterinarian.

Vaccinations will be provided free of charge to all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets three months of age and older. All pets must be on a leash or in a cage and pet owners should bring rabies vaccination records for each animal that will be receiving a shot to ensure proper and effective vaccination.

New York 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.

Rabies is a very serious disease of warm-blooded animals caused by a virus. Raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes are the 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 clinics and rabies in general, visit www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/243/Environmental-Health or contact the Division of Public Health at 716-753-4481.