DENVER — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will not change any protocols regarding possible rabies exposure in the wake of a decision to euthanize 11 puppies, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy.
After one littermate tested positive for rabies following an adoption event in July, the state ordered 11 additional puppies to be put down. Those dog owners were initially given the option to quarantine their new puppies, before the state ordered them to be euthanized.
“Because rabies is such a severe disease, we really have to err on the side of caution,” Herlihy said.
She said CDPHE changed course after receiving new information about the risk to the additional puppies. There is no way to test for rabies on a living dog, so she said the agency made the decision to euthanize the additional puppies.
Testing afterward showed one additional puppy was positive for rabies. Ten dogs tested negative.
One of those dogs belonged to Jess Eden, who called the state’s decision to stick with current protocols disappointing.
“When they say we have no problems with what we did, it makes me realize that they actually don't have any empathy or compassion for the situation,” Eden said. “They never did. They never intended to probably ever offer a quarantine.”
Eden said the state sent her information indicating quarantine or euthanasia as potential options, and she’s unclear why the state reversed its decision to allow quarantine.
“I think it's awfully ironic that they were communicating to me that they were following their own policies, but they actually weren't following those policies,” she said. “I think if anything needs to change, they need to be held accountable to actually following those and be consistent with that. They need to be consistent with their communication with families, as well and respect their rights to choose.”