City Island Civic Association

Most pet owners on City Island are law-abiding and responsible enough to license their dogs, spay or neuter their cats and dogs, pick up their droppings, and feed and groom their animals regularly. However, too many residents here make the problem of stray animals worse by refusing to neuter the animals that they feed on a regular basis, thus increasing the stray population and the spread of disease to healthy animals. If you are not able to capture an animal to have it treated by a veterinarian, either because of the cost or because of the difficulty, call 311 for information on how you can deal with this issue. There are several organizations that will provide free or low-cost health care and neutering.

Do You Know the Law?

• It is illegal to let your dog run loose off a leash outside your property.
• It is illegal to keep a dog without licensing it with the NYC Department of Health.
• It is illegal not to clean up dog droppings in public streets, sidewalks, or other people’s property.

Rabies on City Island

In the year 2008, tor the first time since the NYC Health Department began keeping records, rabid animals were found for the first time on City Island. On May 5, a rabid raccoon was found at Rochelle Street and City Island Avenue, and on May 29 another was found near the same location. On July 15, a stray kitten found at Minneford Avenue and Cross Street tested positive for rabies after being attacked by a raccoon. In August a rabid skunk was found at Hawkins Street and William Avenue, and in September another rabid skunk was found at Reville Street and King Avenue.

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system. It is spread to people and pets by bites from infected wild animals, usually bats, raccoons and skunks. In New York City, animal rabies is most common in the Bronx and Staten Island and most often occurs in raccoons. Rabid bats have been reported from all the boroughs.

Protect Your Pet and Your Family

Get your pet vaccinated regularly for rabies. It the law! Maintaining vaccination against rabies is required for all dogs and cats in NYC and is the best way to protect them from being infected with rabies.

Keep your cats indoors if possible and supervise your dogs while they are outdoors. Pets that roam may come into contact with rabid animals, get infected and then expose you. Any unvaccinated dog or cat that may have been exposed to a rabid animal is required to enter a six-month isolation or be euthanized.

Keep garbage in containers to avoid attracting animals. Raccoons are very clever, so be sure that the lids are on tight. If you see an open garbage container at an Island restaurant, ask the management to keep it covered.

If you must feed pets out of doors, leave the food out for only a few minutes and bring it in before twilight, which is when raccoons and skunks are most active. Never leave pet food out all night.

Call a veterinarian if your pet has been in contact with any wild animal or with one that might be rabid.

Stay Away from Wild or Stray Animals

Never approach a wild, stray, sick or injured animal, no matter how helpless it looks. Raccoons, skunks and bats are more likely than other animals to have rabies. Be careful around these animals, especially if they look sick or behave strangely, such as acting too aggressive or too friendly or has trouble standing up. If it is a night animal, such as a raccoon, and you see it walking around during the day, stay away from it.

If you see any animals acting this way, call 311 and ask for Animal Care and Control for advice on what to do. For more information, visit http://nyc.gov/health/rabies.