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The Magic Rabies Shot?

Rabid feral cats are a major health concern not solved by TNR.

So, lemme get this straight...The Putnam County Department of Health recognizes rabid feral cats pose a significant public health threat and to combat that has decided to coordinate efforts with cat rescue groups to implement a trap, neuter, return program which will also give the feral cat one rabies shot. One.  One. One. One rabies shot and no boosters, no boosters, no boosters does NOT prevent a feral cat from catching and spreading rabies!

Are ya kiddin' me?

Will somebody please tell Putnam County Commissioner of Health Dr. Allen Beals the following.....New York State Law requires cats to be vaccinated against rabies within 4 months of birth AND given a booster shot within the year AND given booster shots every 1-3 years thereafter depending on the type of vaccine for the entire life of the cat! Even a cat that is current with all of those boosters is still required to get yet another rabies booster shot within 5 days of contact with a suspected rabid animal. A cat that is not current with it's booster shots is required by NYS law to be euthanized or quarantined.

True, this NYS law does not apply to feral cats but shouldn't it?!

In the interest of public health, if domestic cats are required by NYS law to have regularly scheduled rabies booster shots and another shot within 5 days of contact with a suspected rabid animal, why then are feral cats not subject to the same laws and guidelines? Do feral cats not need as many rabies shots as domestic cats to protect them, other wildlife, pets, and people from rabies?  Do feral cats in a TNR program receive one MAGIC shot that protects them for life from rabies?

The unnaturally existing huge numbers of feral cats in NYS makes it even more crucial for feral cats to be completely protected from rabies because there is a much greater chance they would come in contact with other wildlife, pets, and people! 8-year-old Precious Reynolds who contracted rabies from a feral cat last year in a California schoolyard can attest to that.          

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smellyp@nts May 22, 2013 at 05:34 pm
"what's not broken." AOL has said loud and clear Patch ain't profitable yet. but it ain'tRead More broken because you and one other commenter liked the old graphic design! oowee! LMAO!!
Mel May 21, 2013 at 10:14 am
I agree. Yet another case of don't fix what's not broken...
kmr303 May 18, 2013 at 11:38 am
First of all, I don't understand why teachers are paying for anything out of pocket when the supplyRead More lists that parents receive at the end of the summer are as long as their arms. Secondly, SOCIETY lets the kids down?!?!? I think the school taxes in Yorktown should be sufficient so that the teachers don't have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. SOCIETY does not let the kids down, it is those who are in control of the school tax monies who let the kids down. Perhaps the administrators should take salary cuts, or maybe we should even eliminate some of those administrative positions. No teacher should have to pay for supplies out of pocket.