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BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Veterinarians are bringing pet care to communities along the Yukon River in an effort to reduce strays and their potential to pass diseases to humans.
KYUK reports (http://is.gd/U4yAs1) costly vet visits keep pets from being spayed and neutered, resulting in litters of unwanted puppies that can become strays. Health officials worry this population will come in contact with germs and disease, including rabies that has been found in the Yukon-Kiskokwim Delta fox population.
Native Rural Veterinary director Angie Fitch says her group teamed up with others to help solve this public health issue.
Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation official Brian Berube and two veterinarians started at Mountain Village on June 21. The team is traveling southeast along the river to three more communities before ending in Marshall.
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Information from: KTOO-FM, http://www.ktoo.org
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