DEM finds rabid pony near horse ranch of Charlestown’s state Representative-Elect

Animal was euthanized. DEM and Health Department alert public

 

It's less than a quarter mile from Filippi's horse ranch to Sherman Ave. where DEM caught the rabid pony
Note also the quarry behind Filippi's property. That's Conklin Limestone which had its corporate charter
revoked in 2012 five months after this Google Earth photo was taken.

This is a pretty terrible Christmas story, but unfortunately, it’s a true one. DEM put out a news release announcing that they had picked up a pony suffering from rabies near Sherman Road in Lincoln, RI. Of course, the horse had to be put down and that took place on December 26.

Based on the DEM news release, reprinted below in its entirety, the pony was found very near to the 1092 Great Road, Lincoln, RI that is listed by recently elected state Representative Blake Filippi as his home address on many of his official documents (e.g. his Massachusetts Bar license).

The Filippi family owns Ballard’s Farm at that address, plus a huge house. Their Block Island businesses, including Ballard's Inn, are listed as headquartered there.

While Filippi claimed during the election that he was a cattle rancher, much of the property is used by the Summer Hill Farm which trains and boards horses.

Aerial photos show, but also lots of horse training space.

What caught my eye is the Sherman Avenue, where DEM says the rabid pony was found, runs in back of the Filippi’s Great Road property.

Rabies in horses of all varieties is uncommon. Merck estimates there are less than 100 cases reported each year nationwide. Sources can include bites from rabid skunks or foxes.

I hope that rabid pony didn’t come from Filippi’s property and certainly hope none of the horses on that property were infected.

Here is the DEM news release in its entirety:

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are alerting the public that a pony collected from Lincoln in the vicinity of Sherman Avenue has tested positive for rabies. 

The pony was euthanized on Friday, December 26. HEALTH is in the process of identifying and evaluating all of the people that had contact with the pony to determine whether they should receive post-exposure treatment. The pony was not vaccinated against rabies.

Rabies is able to infect all mammals, including humans but it is typically found in wild animals. The virus is found in the saliva and nervous system tissue of infected animals and is usually spread when a mammal is bitten by an infected animal.

Vaccinate for protection

All dogs, cats and ferrets are required by State law to have current vaccination against rabies. Horses, ponies, and other livestock species of animals are not required to be vaccinated unless they have public contact. 

Vaccination of pet animals prevents them from contracting rabies, and prevents people from becoming exposed to rabies from their pets. HEALTH and DEM make the following recommendations:

• Make sure dogs, cats and ferrets are properly vaccinated against rabies. It is the law.
• Avoid all contact with stray, wild or free-roaming domestic animals.
• Call HEALTH if you had any contact with this pony from December 1 onward. HEALTH will evaluate your exposure risk.
• Call your local animal control officer if an animal you own has had contact with a stray, wild or free-roaming domestic animal.
• Secure all trash so that animals will not be attracted to it.
• Do not feed animals outdoors, as this will attract other animals. This is especially dangerous when feeding large numbers of free-roaming cats.
• Do not leave pets outdoors loose or unattended.

For online information about rabies: http://www.health.state.ri.us/diseases/rabies/.