Over the past 16 years there has been a significant reduction in human and pet exposures to rabies throughout Allegheny County. This is largely due to the efforts of the rabies vaccination program for wild raccoons spearheaded by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the Allegheny County Health Department.
This year, employees and volunteers of the USDA and ACHD will be distributing vaccine-containing baits from August 4th through 11th across Allegheny County. During the time, please keep your dog on a leash, indoors or confined to your property as much as possible during baiting and the week after. The risk of adverse effects to humans and animals due to exposure to the vaccine is minimal, but the ACHD and Township urge the public to avoid contact with the bait if possible. The attached flyer contains images of the two types of bait; one in a plastic sachet that looks like a ketchup packet coated in fish meal, and the other plastic sachet enclosed in a fish meal block. The fish scent attracts the raccoons who consume the bait and vaccine, resulting in the development of antibodies to the rabies virus.
For more information regarding this program: ACHD - Raccoon Baiting Program