Dozens of pets vaccinated against rabies

PATTERSON- The Putnam Veterans Memorial Park went to the dogs…and cats…Saturday when the county’s Health Department conducted a rabies vaccination clinic.

Dr. Evan Kanouse of the Brook Farm Veterinary Center in Patterson administered the rabies inoculation to dozens of family pets with the assistance of veterinary clinician Caitlyn.

A total of 77 dogs, 30 cats and two ferrets were inoculated.

Marianne Burdick, associate public health sanitarian, who supervises the rabies control program, reported “any mammal can get rabies, but it occurs more frequently in some species than others. Animals are sent for rabies testing when an investigation determines there is risk of rabies exposure in a
person or domestic animal.”

For the first 10 months of the year, the Putnam Health Department has submitted 54 animals to the Wadsworth Rabies Lab for testing and four were positive for rabies—a bat, skunk, cat and raccoon.  Burdick explained cat and dog exposures tend to occur year-round while encounters with bats increase in spring and summer when bats are most active.

Putnam hosts three rabies clinics annually in March, July and November.  Commissioner of Health Dr. Michael Nesheiwat says: “For any exposure-related concerns, on-call staff is reachable 24/7 at 845-808-1390 Extension 3.”