YOUNGSVILLE, NY — Longtime Jeffersonville resident and veterinarian Dr. Joe Nebzydoski, owner and operator of the Youngsville Veterinary Clinic, got a surprise visit recently from 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 department was presented in recognition of steadfast service to Sullivan County’s Department of Public Health and the people of the 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,” the award read.

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

The resolution reads as follows:

“WHEREAS, Rabies is 100 percent 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 wish to recognize, thank and honor Dr. Joseph Nebzydoski for his outstanding commitment, reliability and dedication to animal health and public safety in Sullivan County.”

Contributed by the Sullivan County Manager’s office.