DENVER — Attendees of a puppy adoption event in Englewood are being asked to contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) , as health officials say they may have been exposed to rabies. A puppy at the Moms and Mutts Colorado (MAMCO) Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs adoption event, held on Saturday, July 20, tested positive for rabies on Wednesday and has been euthanized, CDPHE said in a release. According to the department, euthanizing an animal is the only way to test it for rabies.
This is the first time a dog has tested positive for rabies in Colorado since 2020, per the release. Health officials ask that attendees who interacted with the "July Shepherd Mix litter," also referred to as "The Celebrity Kids litter," contact the health department for a screening. Booster vaccines may be necessary for any exposed animals that were already vaccinated for rabies.
How to get in contact with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: For regular business hours, people can call the CDPHE hotline at 303-692-2700 For calls after hours, during weekends, or on holidays, people can call 303-370-9395 What will happen to humans exposed to rabies? After conducting a risk assessment, public health officials recommended a rabies post-exposure prophylaxis — "a safe and effective way to prevent rabies infection" in humans — for 17 people who were in close contact with the infected puppy, per the release. Health officials will continue screen.