by

Dave Hardin

Public Information Officer

In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to be writing again about rabies prevention. But Catawba County recorded its first confirmed case of rabies for 2009 after a dog killed a skunk on February 8, and the skunk later tested positive for the disease.

The dog’s owner decided to have the dog euthanized, because it had not had a current rabies vaccination. If you have dogs or cats and aren’t aware of the importance of having them properly vaccinated for rabies, I hope you’ll keep reading.

We had a confirmed positive rabies case in the wild animal population in Catawba County in early 1999, after 43 years without a confirmed case. In the two years that followed, the county recorded as many as thirty cases a year, but the experts on the disease said it was likely that cases reported here would drop off significantly. Based on what occurred in other counties to the east of us as rabies spread through, the experts also said we would then see spikes in cases over time.

Rabies is a virus that is fatal once it reaches the brain. It infects only mammals so pets, livestock and people are at risk. It is spread mainly through bites, but it can be passed when infected saliva or brain tissue comes in contact with open wounds, skin breaks or mucous membranes, which are the thin layers of tissue lining the eyes, nose and mouth. Rabies is most often carried by raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

Wild animals are naturally cautious of humans. They would normally avoid contact with people but, if infected with rabies, may become more aggressive and approach humans. Young children need to understand that a wild animal that approaches them is not “friendly” and shouldn't be touched.

You can reduce the chances of wild animals coming onto your property by securing your doors and windows, capping off chimneys with screens and closing off any openings in porches, basements and attics to make sure wild animals can’t get into your home. Secure trash and pet food stored outdoors in animal-proof containers to avoid access by wild or stray animals. And the single best way to protect your pets from rabies is to make sure they are properly vaccinated.

All dogs and cats four months of age or older must be properly vaccinated for rabies under North Carolina law. The initial vaccination is effective for one year and the animal must be  revaccinated before the initial vaccination expires. All dogs and cats must be revaccinated prior to the expiration of the vaccination date according to North Carolina Law and Catawba County Ordinances. Tags showing proof of the current vaccination must be attached to a dog’s collar or chain. Cats are not required to display a rabies tag, however the owner must be able to provide written proof that the cat has been vaccinated.

The owners of pets exposed to rabies while not current on vaccination face a very difficult decision to either try to quarantine the animal with a licensed veterinarian for six months, which can be expensive, or have the animal put to sleep. If you're a pet owner, there's a simple way to avoid having to face that tragic situation. Be sure your dogs and cats are properly vaccinated for rabies using the guidelines noted above.