Hadley Animal Control

04/14/2026

This is just a reminder that folks should be ensuring that their dogs are current on not just rabies vaccines but also distemper vaccines. We have had raccoons present with canine distemper for several years now with the symptoms listed below.
Now we are getting raccoons who present as lethargic, no discharge from eyes or nose, no falling or circling or any other symptoms of distemper or rabies.
The raccoon we picked up yesterday was only lethargic otherwise it appeared very healthy. We thought possibly hit by car with internal injuries. Off to the rehabber it went. Today we got notification from our rehabber that the raccoon actually had a new strain of canine distemper, NJ variant, that doesnt present with any of the typical signs.
Please make sure you have your dogs vaccinated. Per our rehabber, you can transfer it to your pets if you're walking in an area where a sick raccoon was. She disposed of the carrier we had the raccoon in.
If you are a Belchertown resident and see a raccoon displaying any of the signs in the image, do not approach it. Instead reach out to Belchertown Animal Control at 413-519-1754
If you have any questions about distemper please contact your vet.

04/05/2026

🐰 Hoppy Easter weekend! 🌸

Easter brings lots of sweet treats and beautiful blooms—but some can be dangerous for our pets. Keep your fur babies safe by avoiding:

• Lilies (very dangerous for cats—even a sniff is a big deal!)
• Chocolate
• Plastic Easter grass
• Fertilizers & herbicides (it’s a great gardening day)

Urgent Care
Integrity: 413-614-0039
VESH: 413-665-4911

ASPCA Animal Poison Control
888-426-4435

Have an egg-cellent Easter!

03/27/2026

09/01/2025

Today at approximately 11:15am, this young male dog was seen abandoned at the Hadley-Amherst line at the Moody Bridge.

Witnesses reported a full size black pickup with a Tonneau cover stop and let the dog out before driving away toward Amherst.

If you recognize this boy, please contact Hadley Police Department at 413-584-0883.

02/28/2025

This is something we see often— raccoons curled up with their heads pressed against the ground, their eyes shielded from sunlight.

To well-meaning bystanders, it’s easy to project human experiences onto these situations. People assume they’re frightened, cold, or even depressed. Unfortunately, the reality is usually far worse than that.

Animals head-press when they have terrible headaches. Ever have a sinus headache and felt a little better when pushing the heal of your hand against your forehead? Head-pressing is a lot like that.

Raccoons rarely have severe headaches for benign reasons. In the best-case scenarios, head-pressing in a raccoon is a sign of a bad concussion. In the worst cases, it is a symptom of inflammation in the spine and/or brain, caused by a viral infection.

Canine distemper is the most common infectious cause of head-pressing in raccoons. In fact, out of nearly 100 patients we’ve seen with head pressing as a symptom, every single one was suffering from canine distemper.

If you see a raccoon pressing its head against the ground, please do not touch or approach it, but contact your local animal control, game wardens, or wildlife rehabilitators for assistance.

11/26/2024

If you recognize this male pup, please contact the Hadley Police Department at 413-584-0883. He was located in the area of North Maple Street this afternoon.

11/14/2024

For Immediate Release - November 14, 2024

Suspected Rabies Circulating Amongst Raccoons in Northampton and Easthampton Area

NORTHAMPTON - On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) received an increase in reports from residents of Northampton and Easthampton about raccoons exhibiting erratic behavior, including frothing at the mouth, excessive drooling, and approaching people in a disoriented manner. While not yet confirmed, these behaviors are consistent with symptoms of rabies, a serious and potentially fatal disease that affects mammals, including humans.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks mammals' brain and spinal cord. It is primarily an animal disease but can spread to humans through direct contact with saliva, typically via bites or scratches, or through contact with broken skin or mucous membranes. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable with timely vaccination following exposure. If you or someone in your household has been bitten or scratched by wildlife, call the 24/7 Massachusetts Department of Public Health Epidemiology Line at (617) 983-6800 for risk assessment and guidance.

In Massachusetts, rabies is most commonly carried by raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Residents are urged to take the following precautions:

Avoid Contact with Wildlife: Do not approach or handle raccoons or other animals displaying unusual behavior.
Children: Teach children to observe wild animals and unfamiliar pets from a safe distance and avoid approaching them. Remind them to let an adult know if they see an animal acting strangely or behaving unusually.

Pets: Supervise pets closely when outdoors and ensure they are current on their rabies vaccinations, as this is a critical step in protecting them from this potentially fatal disease.
Secure Food Sources: Keep trash bins tightly sealed and avoid leaving food outside.

Report Sightings: If you see a raccoon or other wildlife behaving erratically please report it.

For sightings in Northampton, please call the Public Safety Dispatch non-emergency line at (413) 587-1100.

For sightings in Easthampton, call the Public Safety Dispatch non-emergency line at (413) 527-1212

If you have a pet that may have had contact with a raccoon or an animal suspected of having rabies, please contact the Northampton Animal Control Officer [email protected] or call the non-emergency dispatch line at (413) 587-1100.

The Northampton Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with local and state officials to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary. For more information about rabies prevention, contact www.mass.gov/rabies or contact the Northampton DHHS at (413) 587-1214.

https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28294/Suspected-Rabies-Circulating-Amongst-Raccoons-in-Northampton-and-Easthampton-Area---November-14-2024-PDF

11/04/2024

For Immediate Release - November 1, 2024

Rabies Confirmed in Cat Found in Florence Area

NORTHAMPTON - On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, a feral cat from Northampton, tested positive for rabies at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory. The cat was a large, black, long-haired cat found in the area around Clement Street in Florence on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Rabies is a serious disease, so if you’ve had possible exposure, please reach out to medical staff right away. Anyone exposed to the cat’s saliva—whether through a bite, scratch, open wound, feeding, or if saliva got into their eyes or mouth—has had a high-risk exposure and should seek immediate attention.
If you or someone you know had contact with this cat between Wednesday, October 16, 2024, and Saturday, October 26, 2024, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (available 24/7 at 617-983-6800) or your health care provider for a risk assessment. Following exposure to rabies, disease can be prevented with prompt administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). People who did not have any contact with the cat are not at risk from rabies.
If you have a pet that may have had contact with the cat, please contact the Northampton Animal Control Officer [email protected] or call the non-emergency dispatch line at 413-587-1100.

https://northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28158/Rabies-Confirmed-in-Cat-Found-in-Florence-Area---November-1-2024-PDF

09/23/2024

These dogs were found in Hadley over the weekend. They have yet to be claimed.
Both are intact males; no chips found on intake.

If you recognize them, please call Hadley Dispatch at 413-584-0883.