Brooklyn's Largest Off-Leash Community

 

{download the pdf} make flyer for your local deli, pet supply, vet's office} Rabid Raccoon Found in Downtown Brooklyn 02/16/10 The Prospect Park Alliance was recently informed by the Department of Health that a raccoon has tested positive for rabies in Brooklyn - the first raccoon ever to have rabies in this borough. The raccoon was found in Boerum Hill near State & Nevins Streets - not far from the Atlantic Center. See NY Health Department "positive animals tests": www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdrab-borough.shtml . Rabid Raccoons have been found in Central Park over the past few months; now one has tested positive not far from Prospect Park. Raccoons travel rapidly through back yards, so it may only be a matter of time before they arrive in neighborhoods adjacent to the park itself. Know that rabies is not an immediate threat to those who have vaccinated their dogs; those who keep track of their dogs while off-leash. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO... DO KEEP SHOTS UP TO DATE. If a rabid animal bites your dog, the Health Department requires re-vaccination within 3 days with rabies vaccine and confinement for a 45 day period in the owner’s home. If not vaccinated or not up to date there are two mandatory options; either euthanize immediately or place the pet in quarantine for 6 months at a veterinary facility (this is very costly). OPEN MEADOWS are the best place to exercise your dogs. Avoid the wooded areas even on-leash. Be suspicious of raccoon encounters that are either aggressive or unusually friendly especially in daylight hours. Report such encounters to 311 immediately. If you or your dog is bitten, call 911! 311 useless? In Prospect Park, if you suspect a rabid animal, call the Park Supervisor's office at: 718-287-9889. If it's during work hours they have expressed a willingness to investigate. Between the hous of 9 am and 6 pm, you can also call Park Enforcement Police (the green police vehicles) at 718-437-1350 or 718-437-1351. SPREAD THE WORD to anyone who keeps a dog in a back yard; a dog who does not come out to the park. Once bitten, a backyard dog becomes a danger to its own family as well as neighboring dogs and cats. EVERY HUMAN IS SUSCEPTIBLE. The Department of Health has warning language for both pets and owners here: www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdrab-faq.shtml CHECK OUT FIDO In Prospect Park's website (www.fidobrooklyn.org) and click on the health button for more information as well as city links on rabies. FIDO MEMBERSHIP - What's In It For You? We encourage membership in FIDO In Prospect Park because as a dog owner, we will keep you in the loop whether it be lost and found dogs or bulletins such as this one. Joining FIDO insures that you become part of a dog owners' e-mail group several hundred strong - a group who is always in the know. FIDO IN PROSPECT PARK - WWW.FIDOBROOKLYN.ORG ------------ ASPCA has a mobile clinic that gives FREE rabies shots to people who can prove financial need. They also do mobile spay/neuter. Check the calendar schedule on their website, www.aspca.org/aspca-nyc/mobileclinic/.