Cattaraugus SPCA Probe Turns Up Unvaccinated Pets

Ashley Andrews

Alleged forged rabies vaccination certificate. This one Barrett made out to himself.

The Niagara Falls Reporter’s ongoing investigation into the Cattaraugus County SPCA revealed more shocking information this weekend.

The actual number of dogs in the county who are presumed vaccinated with rabies shots but never got shots may be more than anyone suspects.

SPCA employee Phil Barrett was charged with having given a forged rabies shot certificate to an unsuspecting dog owner, Tava Evingham, who innocently used it to get a dog license.

The Reporter has in its possession seven more forgeries. On top of that, in an interview with the veterinarian, Timothy J. O’Leary, DVM, whose name was forged, we learned there may be more forgeries.

How many dog owners are at home today comfortably presuming their dogs have had rabies shots, but have not? And does this present a real and present danger?

Here is the exclusive interview with Dr. O’Leary, whose name, it is alleged, was forged by CCSPCA employee Barrett.

Reporter: Dr. O’Leary, can you confirm that on February 6, 2012 you filed a statement with the State of New York, County of Cattaraugus, Town of Little Valley, Sheriff’s Department regarding forged rabies certificates issued by the CCSPCA?

Dr. O’Leary: Yes. The Cattaraugus SPCA was using my name and NYS veterinary license number on rabies certificates that they were issuing. The rabies certificates were forged and not done under my supervision. The forgeries were clearly not under my authority and I was not present when they were made out.

Reporter: How many forged rabies certificates are in question, and are you, or have you, ever worked for the CCSPCA as a veterinarian on staff?

Dr. O’Leary: There were eight. No, I’ve never used the CCSPCA’s address or location.

Reporter: Dr. O’Leary, do you think the dogs in question with the forged rabies certificates from the CCSPCA ever received a rabies vaccination, and can anyone give the rabies vaccination? Would Phil Barrett, an animal control officer at the CCSPCA, have the authority to administer the rabies vaccination?

Dr. O’Leary: No, I don’t think the dogs were vaccinated against rabies. What concerns me is how many of mine are falsified rabies certificates? How many are there out there, eight 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 rabies vaccine is a live vaccine and only licensed veterinarians can have, administer and supervise administration. Under my supervision, in the presence of myself, a veterinary technician can administer the vaccine. Phil Barrett cannot give the rabies vaccination or be in possession of the vaccination, unless he stole the vaccinations or someone gave them to him.

Reporter: What is the risk to the community if dogs are unvaccinated against the rabies virus and do you think the CCSPCA and Phil Barrett put the community at risk? Do the forged rabies certificates make the dog licenses invalid?

Dr. O’Leary: Yes, I would think so. You have to have authentic current rabies certificate in order to get a dog license. The certificates that are forged would then make the dog license invalid one would think. Unvaccinated animals are at risk of contracting the virus when unvaccinated against it. We have a lot of raccoons and rats carrying the virus in this area, so the risk is serious.

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Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in warm-blooded animals. The disease can be transmitted from one species to another, such as from dogs to humans, commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal, if post exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. Approximately 97% of human rabies cases result from dog bites.

There is a risk to Southern Cattaraugus County due to the ample surroundings of forests and fields stocked with indigenous animals which may carry the rabies virus, such as raccoons, rats, foxes and skunks, which may come into contact with domesticated unvaccinated dogs and cats.

Rabies is transmitted by saliva and bite. Symptoms appear within five days of exposure to the virus.

Rabies has three stages. The first is a one to three-day period characterized by behavioral changes and known as the prodromal stage.

The second is the excitative stage, which lasts three to four days. This stage is often known as "furious rabies" for the tendency of the affected animal to be hyper-reactive to external stimuli and bite at anything near.

The third is the paralytic stage. In coordination is seen owing to rear limb paralysis. Drooling and difficulty swallowing is caused by paralysis of facial and throat muscles. Death is usually caused by respiratory arrest.

If you or anyone you know received a rabies vacination from the Cattaraugus SPCA, and you have doubts about its authenticity, contact the veterinarian who “signed” the certificate to determine whether his signature is forged or not or contact the police.