Skunk Captured in P’ville Confirmed to Be Rabid
The Westchester County Department of Health notified Pleasantville officials on Friday that a skunk captured on Wednesday in the village had been confirmed as rabid.
Caren Halbfinger, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health, said the skunk sprayed three dogs near a residence on Willis Place during daylight hours. The dogs’ owner used a shovel to scoop up the skunk, placed it in an empty trash receptacle and closed the lid, she said.
The skunk was transported to the Department of Health where it was tested. Results released on Friday showed that the animal was rabid, Halbfinger said.
The pet owner brought the dogs to a veterinarian where they were tested but were found not to have rabies. There were no scratches or bite marks found on the pets, but they were given booster shots for rabies, Halbfinger said.
Following the incident, the Department of Health made robo calls to residences in the neighborhood where the skunk was captured. On Friday, the Pleasantville Police Department was contacted to help spread the word.
For more information on how to take precautions against rabies to protect people and pets, visit http://health.westchestergov.com/rabies.
Free Rabies Clinic on Saturday
Westchester County residents can bring their dogs, cats and ferrets in for free rabies vaccinations today (Saturday, Aug. 22) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SPCA of Westchester, located at 590 N. State Rd. in Briarcliff Manor. Call 914-941-2896, ext. 10, to schedule an appointment.
Cats and ferrets must be in carriers and dogs must be on a leash. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled. No examinations will be given and all pets must be supervised by an adult.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
