Date: Fri 18-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

town-clerk-rabies-clinic

Full Text:

Town Clerk Slates Vaccination Clinic To Combat Rabies

The town clerk's office will be conducting a low-cost anti-rabies vaccination

clinic Saturday, May 10, for dogs and cats.

The clinic will be in the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium from 1 to 3 pm and is

open to everyone, regardless of what town they live in. The cost of the clinic

is $9 per animal. Cash only.

State law requires all cats and dogs three months of age or older to be

vaccinated against rabies. The incidence of rabies in cats is now over 10

times higher than in dogs. Cats run free, are natural hunters and can easily

be bitten by a bat, raccoon or skunk.

Rabies moved up the East Coast into Connecticut in 1991 and has been detected

in every town in the state. As of this month, there have been 3,213 cases of

rabies in Connecticut: 2,718 raccoons, 54 cats, 5 dogs, 374 skunks, 23

woodchucks, 18 red fox, 2 gray fox, 3 sheep, 4 horses, 6 cows, 1 coyote, 1

deer, 1 otter, 1 ferret and 1 bobcat. These figures are for animals that have

tested positive and do not reflect the number of possible rabid animals in the

state.

Rabies is rare among humans, and it is almost always fatal. The rabies virus,

in the saliva of infected animals, enters a victim through a skin puncture or

open wound, affecting the central nervous system. Post exposure vaccinations

must be given before the onset of symptoms since there is no cure once

symptoms appear. Since rabies is a threat to public health, the clinic is

being sponsored by town officials and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical

Association, whose members are donating their time as a public service.

Due to the increasing incidence of rabies, written proof (not tags) of prior

vaccination for rabies or a current dog license must be presented to qualify

for a three-year certificate. A one-year certificate will be given to all

others. State law requires that all pets vaccinated for the first time in 1996

must be revaccinated in 1997.

Collar tags and certificates of vaccination will be provided as required by

law. All dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers.

For more information, call the town clerk's office at 270-4210.