LETTER: Town Clerk Thanks All Who Made Rabies Clinic a Success

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Town of Hamden, I want to personally thank all the volunteers who helped at our 29th annual low-cost Rabies Clinic held June 1st at the M.L.Keefe Community Center.  68 animals were vaccinated and 42 dogs were legally licensed.

A special thank you goes to Dr. Arnold D. Cary, DVM and Virginia Wilde, Vet Technician for the Bethany Veterinary Hospital. As the CVMA representatives doing the vaccinations, they volunteered their time despite their busy schedule.

Thanks to Deborah Cianciolo Weckerle, who coordinated the volunteers and issuance of rabies tags. Thank you Nancy Faughnan, Debbie Giaolini, Michael Kloszewski, Deb Carver, and Michele Hodsdon for their help writing the rabies certificates as dogs and cats were vaccinated. Chris Smith and Steven Gimler, Hamden’s Animal Control officers, doubled as coordinators and traffic directors. Joanne Cifarelli, Joanne Leone and Linda Bykowski sold dog licenses on behalf of the Hamden Town Clerk’s office. 

Finally, thanks to Sal Barese, Hamden Public Works Department, for help with set up of the outside tents, and the gymnasium.  

Since rabies is a threat to public health, town officials and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association volunteered their time to sponsor this clinic. Although rabies is rare among humans, it is almost always fatal. The virus, in the saliva of the infected animals, enters a victim through a skin puncture or open wound, affecting the central nervous system.  

Public Act 91-46 requires all dogs and cats 3 months or older to be vaccinated against rabies.  There have been over 6,000 detected cases of rabies in Connecticut since 1991, and does not reflect the number of possible rabid animals in the state of Connecticut.   

June is also licensing month for dogs, required by state law at six months of age or older. The fees are $8 for spayed/ neutered dogs, and $19 for unaltered dogs.  Licensing after June 30 will have a $1 per month late fee penalty as required by state law.  

Again, we thank everyone for their participation. Remember - Make that beagle legal!

Vera Morrison
Hamden Town Clerk