Niagara Falls Reporter

Public At Risk of Rabies Virus; Outraged Citizens Protest at Felony Forgery Hearing By Morgan Dunbar
Hinsdale, New York – Animal Allies of Western New York, along with the newly formed group "Citizens for Shelter Reform at Cattaraugus County SPCA," will hold a demonstration TODAY, WEDNESDAY, September 19 at 4 p.m. in front of Hinsdale Town Court (4129 Route 16, Hinsdale, NY). Holding signs reading "PUBLIC AT RISK OF RABIES VIRUS" and "FORGERY IS A FELONY," the groups will rally outside the courthouse to focus attention on the alleged possession and distribution of a forged rabies certificate by Cattaraugus County SPCA (CCSPCA) employee, Phillip Barrett. Barrett, a cruelty investigator for the CCSPCA was arrested August 14th on one charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class D felony offense. He is expected to appear in front of Town of Hinsdale Justice Michael Gilliland today at 5pm. COPIES OF FORGED RABIES CERTIFICATES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEDIA AT DEMONSTRATION. Since Barrett’s arrest on August 14, several more forged certificates have emerged. “The Cattaraugus SPCA was using my name and NYS veterinary license number on rabies certificates that they were issuing," saysTimothy J. O’Leary, DVM, the veterinarian whose name appears on the forged certificates. "The forgeries were clearly not under my authority and I was not present when they were made out.” New York State Public Health Department states, “Rabies is a viral disease which almost always leads to death, unless treatment is provided soon after exposure. New York State frequently leads the nation in the number of rabid animals.” Cattaraugus County Environmental Health Service echoes this sentiment. Their website reads “[Rabies] is endemic in certain wild mammal populations across New York State including primarily raccoons, bats, fox, and skunk…In general, pets are far more likely to come in contact with rabid animals than people.” The website goes on to say that, “Most reported exposures involve domestic animals (dogs & cats) with owners.” Regarding the threat to public health, Dr. O’Leary asks, “How many [forged rabies certificates] are there out there, 8 or 800? My concern is that there are animals without a rabies vaccination in Cattaraugus County at risk of rabies, and families at risk…. The risk is serious.” The CCSPCA has recently come under public scrutiny for alleged labor law violations, financial mismanagement and the egregious neglect of companion animals at the CCSPCA.

Public At Risk of Rabies Virus;

Outraged Citizens Protest at Felony Forgery Hearing

By Morgan Dunbar

Hinsdale, New York – Animal Allies of Western New York, along with the newly formed group "Citizens for Shelter Reform at Cattaraugus County SPCA," will hold a demonstration TODAY, WEDNESDAY, September 19 at 4 p.m. in front of Hinsdale Town Court (4129 Route 16, Hinsdale, NY). Holding signs reading "PUBLIC AT RISK OF RABIES VIRUS" and "FORGERY IS A FELONY," the groups will rally outside the courthouse to focus attention on the alleged possession and distribution of a forged rabies certificate by Cattaraugus County SPCA (CCSPCA) employee, Phillip Barrett. Barrett, a cruelty investigator for the CCSPCA was arrested August 14th on one charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument, a class D felony offense. He is expected to appear in front of Town of Hinsdale Justice Michael Gilliland today at 5pm.

COPIES OF FORGED RABIES CERTIFICATES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO MEDIA AT DEMONSTRATION.

Since Barrett’s arrest on August 14, several more forged certificates have emerged. “The Cattaraugus SPCA was using my name and NYS veterinary license number on rabies certificates that they were issuing," saysTimothy J. O’Leary, DVM, the veterinarian whose name appears on the forged certificates. "The forgeries were clearly not under my authority and I was not present when they were made out.”

New York State Public Health Department states, “Rabies is a viral disease which almost always leads to death, unless treatment is provided soon after exposure. New York State frequently leads the nation in the number of rabid animals.” Cattaraugus County Environmental Health Service echoes this sentiment. Their website reads “[Rabies] is endemic in certain wild mammal populations across New York State including primarily raccoons, bats, fox, and skunk…In general, pets are far more likely to come in contact with rabid animals than people.” The website goes on to say that, “Most reported exposures involve domestic animals (dogs & cats) with owners.”

Regarding the threat to public health, Dr. O’Leary asks, “How many [forged rabies certificates] are there out there, 8 or 800? My concern is that there are animals without a rabies vaccination in Cattaraugus County at risk of rabies, and families at risk…. The risk is serious.”

The CCSPCA has recently come under public scrutiny for alleged labor law violations, financial mismanagement and the egregious neglect of companion animals at the CCSPCA.

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Sep 19 , 2012