HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. David R. Wolfgang announced that a team of reindeer from North Pole, Alaska, has been cleared to cross state lines to make deliveries on Dec. 24 to “good girls and boys” in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
“Nine very small reindeer belonging to one Santa Claus, of 25 Candy Cane Lane, were cleared for travel for the purpose of delivering toys,” Dr. Wolfgang said. “Though these animals possessed some unusual physical capabilities, they were extraordinarily healthy, despite one’s glaringly red nose.”
The reindeer, answering to the names of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph were given a clean bill of health by Dr. Wolfgang’s counterpart in Alaska, State Veterinarian Dr. Robert F. Gerlach of Anchorage. Gerlach supplied a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Permit to Ship, valid for 30 days from today.
Such certificates are required as an assurance that contagious diseases are not carried across state lines. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture veterinarians supply similar certifications for animals transported to other states.
To learn more about the department’s efforts to protect animal health, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
— Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
