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Animal control: Beware of rabies
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
A series of dog-rabid skunk encounters have county animal control officers worried, and pet owners are urged to protect their animals.
Carrie Smith of St. David said she learned the hard way Jan. 19 that there known problems with skunks in the area, but she wasn't warned.
Her dogs were put in quarantine after they bit and killed a rabid skunk that had entered the yard during the day.
"If I had known, I would have protected my animals a little better," she said. "There have been three incidents on my property alone."
Smith's pit bull will now be in quarantine for up to 45 days because lab tests confirmed that the skunk killed was rabid.
In a news release, Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, said additional incidents were reported from the St. David area.
On Jan. 27 the office received two more calls regarding skunks fighting dogs. Both skunks were killed and transported to Tucson for lab testing.
"All three skunks tested positive for the rabies virus and as a result, a total of seven dogs were placed in quarantine," Capas said.
All the incidents were located within a five to 10-mile radius of Apache Power Road, and residents are asked to exercise caution around wild animals, especially skunks.
Animals with rabies may act differently than healthy animals. Wild animals may move slowly or act tame. Also, some wild animals, like foxes, raccoons, and skunks, that normally avoid porcupines, may receive a face full of quills if they become rabid and try to bite these prickly rodents. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you and try to bite.
There are two common types of rabies. One type is "furious" rabies. Animals with this type are hostile, may bite at objects, and have an increase in saliva. In the movies and in books, rabid animals foam at the mouth. In real life, rabid animals look like they have foam in their mouths because they have more saliva.
The second and more common form is known as paralytic or "dumb" rabies. An animal with "dumb" rabies is timid and shy. It often rejects food and has paralysis of the lower jaw and muscles.
Signs of rabies in animals include: changes in an animal's behavior, general sickness, problems swallowing, an increase in drool or saliva, wild animals that appear abnormally tame or sick, animals that may bite at everything if excited, difficulty moving or paralysis and death
Animals in the early stage of rabies may not have any signs, although they can still infect humans and other animals.
The Cochise County Health Department is working with the sheriff's department to urge all pet owners to have their animals vaccinated against the rabies virus.
"Remember that the initial vaccination is only good for one year, while each subsequent vaccination is good for three years," Capas said. "Residents are reminded that rabid animals may show no fear, so do not approach any wild animal in attempts to feed or capture it."
Officials are also asking residents not to transport any trapped animal to a secondary location that could spread the virus. If an animal is suspected of having rabies, contact the local animal control office for assistance.
The County Health Department can be reached at 520-432-9400, Cochise Animal Control is at 520-432-9500, the Benson Animal Control office can be reached at 586-3600.
A series of dog-rabid skunk encounters have county animal control officers worried, and pet owners are urged to protect their animals.
Carrie Smith of St. David said she learned the hard way Jan. 19 that there known problems with skunks in the area, but she wasn't warned.
Her dogs were put in quarantine after they bit and killed a rabid skunk that had entered the yard during the day.
"If I had known, I would have protected my animals a little better," she said. "There have been three incidents on my property alone."
Smith's pit bull will now be in quarantine for up to 45 days because lab tests confirmed that the skunk killed was rabid.
In a news release, Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, said additional incidents were reported from the St. David area.
On Jan. 27 the office received two more calls regarding skunks fighting dogs. Both skunks were killed and transported to Tucson for lab testing.
"All three skunks tested positive for the rabies virus and as a result, a total of seven dogs were placed in quarantine," Capas said.
All the incidents were located within a five to 10-mile radius of Apache Power Road, and residents are asked to exercise caution around wild animals, especially skunks.
Animals with rabies may act differently than healthy animals. Wild animals may move slowly or act tame. Also, some wild animals, like foxes, raccoons, and skunks, that normally avoid porcupines, may receive a face full of quills if they become rabid and try to bite these prickly rodents. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you and try to bite.
There are two common types of rabies. One type is "furious" rabies. Animals with this type are hostile, may bite at objects, and have an increase in saliva. In the movies and in books, rabid animals foam at the mouth. In real life, rabid animals look like they have foam in their mouths because they have more saliva.
The second and more common form is known as paralytic or "dumb" rabies. An animal with "dumb" rabies is timid and shy. It often rejects food and has paralysis of the lower jaw and muscles.
Signs of rabies in animals include: changes in an animal's behavior, general sickness, problems swallowing, an increase in drool or saliva, wild animals that appear abnormally tame or sick, animals that may bite at everything if excited, difficulty moving or paralysis and death
Animals in the early stage of rabies may not have any signs, although they can still infect humans and other animals.
The Cochise County Health Department is working with the sheriff's department to urge all pet owners to have their animals vaccinated against the rabies virus.
"Remember that the initial vaccination is only good for one year, while each subsequent vaccination is good for three years," Capas said. "Residents are reminded that rabid animals may show no fear, so do not approach any wild animal in attempts to feed or capture it."
Officials are also asking residents not to transport any trapped animal to a secondary location that could spread the virus. If an animal is suspected of having rabies, contact the local animal control office for assistance.
The County Health Department can be reached at 520-432-9400, Cochise Animal Control is at 520-432-9500, the Benson Animal Control office can be reached at 586-3600.
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Gary R. wrote on Feb 17, 2009 1:36 PM: