Nearly 1,000 pets have been vaccinated against rabies through several no-cost vaccination clinics held recently in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties after an up-tick in the number of reported rabies cases.

The clinics, made possible by funding Sen. Patty Ritchie secured in the state budget after an increase in the number of wildlife rabies cases reported in the North Country, were hosted in conjunction with St. Lawrence County Public Health and Jefferson County Public Health.

“Rabies is a deadly disease, and I’m thrilled that through my clinics, we were able to vaccinate nearly 1,000 dogs and cats that may not have otherwise been protected,” said Ritchie.

In St. Lawrence County clinics were held in Louisville, Gouverneur and Heuvelton. Locations were selected in part because these communities do not regularly host free vaccination clinics.

According to the state Health Department, St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties have seen the largest number of confirmed cases of wildlife rabies in seven years and are on track to exceed that record, which was set in 2006.