More rabies in Pecos County

[SHANEA]

http://www.fortstocktonpioneer.com/articles/2007/03/29/news/news07.txt

More rabies in Pecos County By Sharon Roosevelt
Pioneer Staff Writer

Over 300 vaccinations for rabies were given to Fort Stockton pets Saturday at the Old Fire Station on Nelson Street.
This is an increase over last year, due primarily to the rabies cases found in the county and surrounding areas this spring. Saidor (Hoppy) Turman, USDA District Supervisor for Wildlife Services, reported that the flying distribution of baits was completed Sunday afternoon. He spent Monday hand-baiting the area around Greasewood Flats and Gomez Road. Tuesday morning, the 7D Road was hand baited. Wednesday was spent in Coyanosa and Grandfalls.

Four more carcasses have been found and their heads sent off for testing. There was a report of a skunk behaving oddly in Girvin, a coyote that attacked a dog in Pyote, and another coyote in Coyonosa. "The coyotes from Coyanosa and Pyote came back positive, so we'll hand bait Pyote and Wickett as well," said Turman.

Back in Fort Stockton, Dr. Melissa Miller and her staff operated the Saturday clinic, with volunteers under the direction of Fort Stockton Police Department Animal Control Officers Joe Armstrong and Josh Cadena helping with the paperwork. Residents paid seven dollars for each rabies shot, and city residents paid a five-dollar registration fee.

It is a city and county ordinance that all pet owners vaccinate their pets for rabies.

If you missed the Saturday clinic, you should call a veterinarian for an appointment for your animals.

Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for any animal that is behaving oddly, especially if they are staggering, or being unusually aggressive. If you can, harvest the animal at once. Do not handle the carcass with bare hands, and contact animal control at 336-4600, or Turman at 336-3303 or the Pecos County Sheriff's office at 336-3521.