Alexander County Animal Services has confirmed that a dog living on a property in the Sugar Loaf area in Taylorsville near Black Oak Ridge Road has tested positive for rabies. This is the third case of rabies this year in the county. The first was diagnosed in a cow. The second case was confirmed in a skunk.
The dog had been exhibiting signs consistent with rabies and later died while under the care of a veterinarian. Samples from the unvaccinated dog were sent to the North Carolina State Lab to be tested for rabies. Upon receiving the positive results, the family owning the dog and the veterinary team treating the dog were alerted to the potential for human exposure.
The rabies virus is typically transmitted when the saliva of a host animal is passed to an uninfected animal. In the U.S., the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and bats. The virus attacks the central nervous system.
Rabies is typically fatal once clinical signs of rabies infection, like impairment in the brain’s functions, confusion, unusual aggression, unusual friendliness, delirium, wobbliness, excessive salivation, paralysis, or insomnia appear. However, most human fatalities in the U.S. happen when people fail to seek medical assistance — postexposure treatment is nearly 100 percent effective.
The best way to protect yourself, your family, and your beloved pets is to keep your dogs, cats and ferrets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations. All it takes is a brief encounter with a rabid animal to expose another animal to this deadly disease. If you are unsure of your pet’s rabies vaccination due date or cannot find your current rabies certificate, please have the vaccination repeated. Just remember, a pet is not considered currently vaccinated until 28 days after the vaccination.
Other steps, in addition to rabies vaccination, that you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones, and pets include:
• Supervise pets outdoors. Keep pets confined to your property or on a leash.
• Do not feed pets outdoors. Pet food attracts wildlife.
• Do not throw out food scraps on a trash pile outside.
• Secure garbage cans with wildlife-proof lids.
Do not assume just because rabies has not been discovered in an animal in your part of the county or on your particular road that it is not out there. Instead, assume that it is and protect yourself and your pets by keeping their rabies vaccinations up to date. Owners should retain the original copy of the rabies vaccination certificate, provided by the legally authorized vaccinator as evidence of the animal’s current vaccination status. This should include any dog, cat, or ferret four (4) months of age and older. Even those pets that stay inside only and never go out should be vaccinated as well. There are no legal waivers or exemptions to avoid vaccinating particular dogs, cats, or ferrets. Rabies vaccinations are required by North Carolina state law.
One-year rabies vaccinations for cats and dogs are available for $10 at Alexander County Animal Services, located at 116 Waggin Trail in Taylorsville. Please call for an appointment to have your pets vaccinated. Alternatively, 1-year and 3-year vaccines are also available through your local veterinarian.
If you have any questions or need to make an appointment to have your pet vaccinated at the Alexander County Animal Shelter, please call 828-632-1199. Visit https://acpets.org for more information.
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