Jennifer Henke & Michael Phipps-Russell | Protecting Pets & People: The Coachella Valley Tick Crisis

In this important episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean welcomes two experts tackling a growing public health and animal welfare concern: the surge of brown dog ticks in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Jennifer Henke of the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District and Michael Phipps-Russell of Loving All Animals share what rising tick populations mean for local pets, families, and communities. They discuss the alarming increase in tick-borne diseases such as ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and dangerous rickettsioses affecting both dogs and humans. The conversation explores treatment challenges, the need for prevention, community volunteer support, and upcoming multi-agency efforts to curb the spread. This episode provides essential guidance to protect pets, households, and neighborhoods from a rapidly expanding threat.Takeaways:Brown dog ticks are increasing significantly in the Eastern Coachella Valley.Dogs are testing positive for ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis at high rates.Tick-borne diseases can delay or prevent spay/neuter surgeries due to bleeding risks.Treatment for infected pets is lengthy, costly, and difficult for East Valley owners to access.Human cases of rickettsioses, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, are rising in nearby Baja California.Prevention—tick checks, veterinary-approved medications, and owner awareness—is essential.Community volunteers, or “animal social workers,” are urgently needed to support treatment follow-up.Multi-agency clinics and outreach programs are being organized to address the crisis.#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #CoachellaValley #BrownDogTick #TickPrevention #PetHealth #PublicHealth #VectorControl #LovingAllAnimals #Ehrlichiosis #Anaplasmosis #Rickettsioses #RockyMountainSpottedFever #AnimalWelfare #EastValley #DogRescue #PetSafety #CommunityHealth #JenniferHenke #MichaelPhippsRussell #LovingAllAnimals