YOUNGSVILLE — Longtime Jeffersonville resident and veterinarian Joe Nebzydoski, owner and operator of the Youngsville Veterinary Clinic, got a surprise visit today by a group of Sullivan County officials, who presented him with a framed certificate in recognition of his years of participation in Sullivan County Public Health’s rabies vaccination clinics.

A Distinguished Service Award from the Legislature and Public Health was presented “in recognition of your steadfast service to Sullivan County’s Department of Public Health and the people of this County. Your willingness and availability to help prevent the spread of rabies reliably provide our residents and pet owners with safety, knowledge and an invaluable peace of mind.”

Legislators also passed a formal resolution in March in honor of Dr. Nebzydoski’s commitment to animal health and public safety.

“WHEREAS, Rabies is 100% fatal once the virus has entered the nervous system; and

WHEREAS, post exposure prophylactic treatment for a person bitten by an animal that cannot be monitored is painful, expensive, and involves up to four weeks of vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski, owner of Youngsville Veterinary Clinic, has consistently and reliably supported the Disease Surveillance and Investigations Rabies Prevention Program by taking in potentially rabid bats, wildlife and domesticated animals, and furthermore humanely euthanizing, prepping and shipping them to the state laboratory for rabies testing, thus saving the County thousands of dollars in rabies post exposure vaccination costs; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski, has vaccinated hundreds (if not thousands) of pets at Sullivan County Department of Public Health Rabies Vaccination Clinics; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski has gone above and beyond to aid in the testing of potentially rabid animals and preventing the spread of rabies within the domestic animal population; and

WHEREAS, without testing a potentially rabid animal or vector borne species, an exposed person would need to receive post exposure prophylactic treatment; and

WHEREAS, without being up-to-date on rabies vaccines, the domesticated animals of Sullivan County could be at risk of contracting rabies; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sullivan County Public Health and the Legislature wishes to recognize, thank and honor Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski for his outstanding commitment, reliability and dedication to animal health and public safety in Sullivan County.”