Florida

Safety And Sanity In The Rabies Alert Zone

While most of us were enjoying our Saturday night, news broke that Kendall’s newly established Rabies Alert Zone had been expanded. The zone now includes SW 72nd Street (Sunset Drive) to the North, SW 128th Street to the South, SW 87th Avenue to the East, and the Florida Turnpike to the West. It encompasses several parks and schools, and on a more personal note, my neighborhood and my veterinary hospital.

Since the first case of rabies was confirmed last week, many questions and concerns have been voiced within the community. The following is a list of do’s and don’t’s for maintaining safety - and sanity - within the rabies alert zone.

Do:

Keep rabies vaccinations current for all pets, and any animals under your care.

Miami-Dade County law requires all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. This includes outdoor cats, as well as stray and/or feral cats who may be cared for by multiple people within the community. Coordinate with all parties involved with the care of free-roaming cats, and make sure their rabies vaccines are up to date. Keep pet cats indoors at all times. If you cannot afford to vaccinate your pets, low cost vaccines are available at Miami-Dade Animal Services.

Familiarize yourself with the clinical signs of rabies.

Rabies can manifest in two different forms. The first is the so-called “furious” form. These are the animals that attack, vocalize dramatically, salivate profusely, appear to be choking, behave erratically, and foam at the mouth. Think Cujo.

The other manifestation is what’s known as the “dumb” form. Rather than exhibiting aggressive behaviors, these animals often appear drunk, dazed, catatonic, or even overly friendly. This form is especially dangerous as the animal may fearlessly approach a human without displaying stereotypical rabid behaviors. Sadly, it is often children who are fooled by this particular presentation, and consequently bitten by these animals.

Remove uneaten pet food from outdoor areas.

If you feed your pets outdoors, start feeding them indoors. If you feed outdoor or free-roaming cats, pick up any food that has not been eaten after 20 minutes. While this may sound cruel, cats figure out very quickly that the proverbial kitchen is not always open. They are quick to adjust to scheduled meal times, and less likely to leave the leftovers that draw wild animals into our yards.

Ditto for people food.

Thoroughly pick up food debris after parties and picnics. Make sure all garbage receptacles are tightly secured.

Obey leash laws.

Our local laws require us to have our dogs leashed and under our control when not on our property. Regardless, many Miamians allow their dogs roam at will, or accompany them in public without a leash. Now is the time to break this habit. It is not only illegal, it is potentially dangerous for your pet.

Rethink doggie doors.

Under normal circumstances, wild animals do not let themselves in via the doggie door. But a rabid animal has literally lost its mind. If your pet can gain entry, so can a raccoon or a skunk. Certain high-end doggie doors are activated only by collars worn by the homeowner’s pets. This can stop unwanted visitors, yet still presents a problem. Which brings me to my next point.

Closely monitor your pet’s outdoor activities.

Pets should not be left outdoors unattended, especially for long periods of time. Keep them within your range of vision at all times. Our two dogs are being leash-walked in our yard for bathroom visits. Pets should remain under your direct supervision to minimize any risk of contact with wild animals.

Avoid contact with stray or wild animals.

Perhaps more importantly, teach children to do the same. Instruct youngsters never to approach or handle unfamiliar animals, either wild or domestic. Even if the animal appears friendly or approachable, the dumb form of rabies can be misleading. Make sure children know that even if some animals seem nice, if we don’t know them, we don’t touch them.

Seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal.

The key word here is “immediate.” Worldwide, rabies kills roughly 59,000 people every year. Fewer than 10 people have ever survived rabies following the onset of clinical signs. Yes, you read that correctly. Do not wait until you begin to feel ill before seeing a doctor. Make sure children know they will not get in trouble if they tell an adult they were bitten or scratched by an animal. Sadly, nearly half of the people who succumb to rabies are children under the age of 15. If you know the owner of the animal who delivered the bite, ask for written proof of the animal’s vaccination status.

Seek veterinary attention for any pet who has been bitten or scratched by another animal.

Again, do not wait until the onset of clinical signs to seek help for your pet. By then, it is too late to save them. Watch, wait and see is not an option. And again, request written proof of rabies vaccination from the owner of the pet or pets involved.

Alert the authorities.

If you suspect an animal may have rabies, call Miami-Dade Animal Services. If you or your pet are bitten or scratched by a domestic or wild animal, notify MDAS at 311 and report the injury to the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County at (305) 324-2400. Report deceased animals to MDAS - do not touch them or attempt to move them yourself.

DON’T:

Do not declare war on the local wildlife!

Wild animals are not invading our neighborhoods. On the contrary, we have invaded theirs, and they pay a heavy price for our intrusion on a daily basis. Our local wildlife does a great job of keeping rats, mosquitoes, and other pests under control. They were here first, and they belong here.

Our state and local governments are working hard to assess and control the situation. At this time, the only thing citizens are being asked to do is stay alert, secure their pets, and report suspected cases of rabies and rabies exposure to the appropriate authorities.

Do not intentionally feed wild animals.

While it may be cool to see a fox in your backyard, luring wild animals with food changes their natural behaviors. As they begin to associate humans with food, their natural fear of us can diminish, or disappear completely. Animals which are normally nocturnal may venture into a park during the day in the hopes of being fed.

They may choose roaming neighborhoods over roaming wild spaces. These same, emboldened animals may become aggressive if food is denied. Others still will stare quietly and patiently while sitting at close range. These behaviors can easily be mistaken for signs of rabies, and reported as such. When this happens, the animals in question are usually trapped and destroyed. To put it another way, a fed critter is a dead critter. Or as one of our neighbors put it, let wildlife be wild.

Do not assume every wild animal you see has rabies.

The rabies alert will stay in place for at least the next 60 days. During this time, the days will grow longer, and mating season will begin for our wild neighbors. It is not unusual to see increased activity and changing behaviors during this time of the year. Vocalizations may be different. Solitary animals may begin roaming with a mate. They may be active during unusual times. These behavioral changes are seasonal and do not necessarily point to a diagnosis of rabies. Again, familiarize yourself with the clinical signs of rabies and think through any knee-jerk reactions of panic.

Do not assist wild or domestic animals who appear to be in distress.

This is a tough one. Springtime means orphaned baby wildlife and abandoned newborn kittens. How can anyone with a heart turn their back on an injured fox kit, a cat who’s been hit by a car, or a baby raccoon crying for its mother? Sometimes all they need is a helping hand from a Good Samaritan to set them back to right. People do it all the time - I’ve done it myself. Not this year. Until the rabies alert is lifted, we must leave this task to the appropriate authorities. Do not touch or pick up any compromised animals, either wild or domestic. Report all such situations to Miami Dade Animal Services, and do not put yourself at risk.

Do not take in stray cats or dogs.

I know - another heartbreaker. But now is not the time. There are hundreds of cats and dogs in our local shelters and rescue groups eagerly awaiting adoption. Stray animals found wandering in the streets should be reported to Animal Services. They will pick up and vaccinate any stray animals, and keep them quarantined until they are declared rabies free, and ready for adoption.

I will be updating this article as more information is provided by our local authorities. In the meantime, feel free to post any questions in the comment section.

Click here for more information on rabies as provided by the Centers for Disease Control. 

Dr. Kupkee is the lead practitioner at Sabal Chase Animal Clinic

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