Animal Control

WATERBURY, VT — The annual Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop will take place from Aug. 7 through Aug. 22. The rabies vaccine bait drop is a nationally coordinated effort between Vermont’s Department of Health, Fish & Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to prevent the spread of rabies among wildlife. A special bait drop focused on rabies among wildlife in Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille and Grand Isle Counties took place earlier this year.

Rabies vaccine — in the form of a sweet-smelling oral bait that is attractive to raccoons and skunks — will be placed by hand in residential areas, and dropped in rural areas from low-flying aircraft. Approximately 300,000 quarter-sized blister packs containing rabies vaccine will be distributed in Vermont communities across ten counties: Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, and Washington.

When an animal bites into the bait, it swallows the oral vaccine and will develop immunity to rabies, a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. Rabies spreads primarily through the bite of an infected animal. In Vermont, rabies is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Cats, dogs, and livestock can also get the disease if they have not been vaccinated for rabies.

So far this year, 44 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies — 27 raccoons, nine skunks, seven foxes, and one bobcat. At this time last year, 24 animals tested positive for rabies.

"We’ve seen a significant increase in rabid animals this year, particularly in northern parts of the state, where rabies had largely been under control,” said Dr. Natalie Kwit, state public health veterinarian with the Health Department. “This bait drop will help prevent spread of rabies among wildlife, protecting the people and domestic animals who may come into contact with them.”

No bats have tested positive for rabies yet this year, but bat activity typically increases in August and September. If you encounter a bat in your home, call the rabies hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES and get more information about what steps to take at www.HealthVermont.gov/Rabies#faq

The bait packs are not poisonous and are not harmful to people, pets or wildlife. If you find a bait pack, leave it alone so it can be eaten by wild animals. The baits are sticky, and human scents left on them may discourage animals from eating the bait. If the bait must be moved, use gloves or a plastic bag. If your pet eats a bait, or if a child brings one home, let officials know by calling the Vermont Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES (1-800-472-2437) or call the toll-free number printed on the bait.

Wildlife officials remind people that it is important to leave wildlife alone, especially baby animals. Interacting with young wildlife may result in them being orphaned by their parents, or needing to be tested for rabies, which requires it to be humanely euthanized. In fact, three young animals — a fox and two raccoons — tested positive for rabies earlier this year.

“You can’t tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it,” said USDA Wildlife Biologist Owen Montgomery. “People should not touch, move, or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals that may appear abandoned.”

• If you see a sick or strange-behaving wild or stray animal, or if you are concerned about a rabies exposure, call the Vermont Rabies Hotline (1-800-4-RABIES)

• Do not touch or pick up wild or stray animals – even baby animals – or try to make them into pets.

• If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound very well with soap and water and contact your health care provider as soon as possible.

• If your pet or farm animal was bitten by a wild or stray animal that might have rabies, contact your veterinarian.

• Make sure your pets and farm animals are up to date on their rabies vaccine. State law requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies — even barn cats.

• Always feed pets inside the house and keep them indoors at night. If they are outdoors during the day, keep them on a leash or in an enclosed space. Pets that roam free are more likely to be exposed to rabies.

For more information, including a list of towns where the bait drop will take place, see our Rabies Vaccine Bait Drop Fact Sheet.

Learn more about rabies in Vermont at HealthVermont.gov/Rabies.

Olivia Arent: Jericho’s New Animal Control Officer

by Phyl Newbeck

Front Porch Forum is full of posts about missing dogs and cats. As Jericho’s new Animal Control Officer, Olivia Arent wants to reunite people with those missing pets, but she also wants to help people learn how to keep their critters from leaving home in the first place.

Serving as Animal Control Officer requires Arent to be on call to help people locate their pets, as well as to mediate disputes between pet owners. Arent is a professional dog trainer, so she has experience working with both pets and their humans. She also believes that her time working as a project manager has helped hone her people skills. “Everyone wants to be heard,” she said. “I think I can bring a lot of empathy and communication skills to the job.”

Photo caption: Oliva Arent and Riggins on the trail.

A resident of Jericho, Arent feels strongly about being active in her community. Her schedule recently opened up a bit so when she saw the posting for Animal Control Officer, she decided to apply. She would like to expand the job so that it involves more than just upholding the rules. Arent believes that if people had better insights into their pets’ behavior, there would be fewer runaway animals and less discord between neighbors. “People don’t know what they don’t know,” she said.

Growing up, the only television station Arent wanted to watch was Animal Planet. Her pets included dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, and guinea pigs. When she was younger, Arent thought about becoming a veterinarian, but she recognized that she would never be able to put an animal down, so she chose another career path as a dog trainer.

While getting her degree in environmental science at UVM, Arent volunteered with All Breed Rescue. The non-profit shut down after Covid so these days she works with Vermont English Bulldog Rescue which is based in Williston. Every month, roughly 40 dogs of all breeds arrive from Texas, and Arent assists with their arrival at the facility and makes sure their needs are met before their new, pre-approved humans come to pick them up. She helps walk the dogs who are awaiting adoption and offers her assistance to new dog owners who want help with training.

Arent is certified in Animal First Aid and CPR. She said pet CPR isn’t that different from the human version because it involves checking the airways and then applying compression. She noted that there are helpful videos available for those who haven’t taken the course, but she highly recommends taking it.

Through her business, Arent provides a variety of training options for dog owners. She is in the process of getting certified to work with aggressive dogs and specializes in fearful and reactive ones. Arent enjoys providing Trail Puppy Training for those who want to take their dogs to areas that don’t require leashes.

Arent has lots of personal experience with off-leash dogs since she took her Australian Cattle Dog, Riggins, with her when she through-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2019. After college, she had moved to Boston, but she was done with that phase of her life and looking for an adventure. “It felt like a time warp,” she said of her time on the trail. “I’ve always had a really great connection to the environment and the hike just fostered a deeper love.” Arent’s favorite part of the trail was the section in Vermont, and she vowed to move back to the state.

These days, Arent shares her home with two dogs and a cat and enjoys being as active as she can. “I grew up playing every sport imaginable,” she said. “Soccer was my first love, but I discovered Ultimate frisbee in college and that was my second love.” Arent also played basketball, softball, and lacrosse. These days, she is part of a recreational Ultimate league but would like to get back into playing soccer.

Arent is looking forward to easing into her role as Animal Control Officer. “I think this will be fun,” she said. She has been in touch with her counterpart in Underhill to learn more about what the job entails. Arent is already thinking about hosting community events in which she would answer questions and offer different topics of conversation. In particular, she would like to host a class on dog body language. “There’s a lot they have to say,” she said, “but you have to know how to listen and watch their bodies. If we are empathetic to animals and really listen to them, we can avoid a lot of conflicts.”

Photo caption: Olivia Arent with her two rescue dogs, Riggins, an Australian Cattle Dog, and Tuke, a probable Great Pyrenees/Husky mix.

SPRING REMINDER

• NOT EVERYONE LOVES DOGS & SOME PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF THEM
• EVERYONE DESERVES TO BIKE, WALK, RUN, DRIVE BY YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT FEAR OF YOUR DOG RUNNING OUT. (FRIENDLY OR NOT)
• CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG – 100% OF THE TIME
• REGULAR EXERCISE IS CRITICAL. A TIRED DOG IS A GOOD DOG
• STATE LAW SAYS REGISTER BY APRIL 1 EVERY YEAR
• TOWN’S HAVE ORDINANCES TOO. KNOW THEM.

Jericho: https://jerichovt.org/2474/widgets/17190/documents/2949

Underhill: https://www.underhillvt.gov/ordinance/domestic-pet-ordinance

Bolton: https://boltonvt.com/wp-content/uploads/docs/AnimalControlOrdinance.pdf

Cambridge/Jeffersonville: https://cambridgetownvt.documents-on-demand.com/?l=75fee5f65c93e911a2cd000c29a59557&d=ba4eb87e5d93e911a2cd000c29a59557

Warnings and Fines may be issued. Keep pets safe.

Be good Neighbors.

Submitted by Jennifer Silpe-Katz, Underhill Animal Control

Ed’s service to Jericho started in 1976 as the dog warden. The title of “Dog Warden” & “Poundkeeper” has changed over time and since 2002 he has been called the “Animal Control Officer” or ACO for short. He has also served as 2^nd Constable, Constable, Weigher of Coal, Inspector of Lumber and Shingles and the Fence Viewer.

When asked how he came across caring for Jericho Dogs he said he was at a Selectboard meeting and Buster Blodgett got up and left the room. Everyone thought he was just going to use the bathroom, but he left the building. When Buster did not return, Selectboard member Bob Curran turned to Ed and asked, “Will you do it?” “Sure,” answered Ed. Little did he know he was signing up for greater than 40 years of service.

Ed currently has a border collie cross named “Tasha”. Ed asks her if she wants to smile and she will lift her lip to show her teeth. She loves helping him on the farm. On April 27 he got a new puppy named “Jill.” Jill is also a border collie cross.

If you wish to send Ed a note of thanks for all that he has done and continues to do for Jericho Dogs.

Please mail to Ed Stygles, PO Box 145, Jericho Vermont 05465. He is not on Front Porch Forum or the internet, so he will just think it is a random coincidence that everyone has thought to thank him at once.