I can forsee a battle coming in Toms River, NJ

Man bitten by rabid cat, getting treatment



Published in the Ocean County Observer 5/18/04

By DON BENNETT
Staff Writer
TOMS RIVER -- An employee of a business in the Manchester Township area is undergoing a painful series of rabies shots after being bitten by a rabid stray cat.

Without the shots, the worker could die, according to Dr. Ella Boyd of the Ocean County Health Department.

Her advice is to leave stray animals alone and take other steps to avoid contact with them.

Five animals, including the cat, have already tested positive for rabies this year in Ocean County. Last year there were 20, including a cat. Raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats can also carry the disease.

"It is important to get your family pets vaccinated for rabies," Boyd said.

Other steps to take to avoid contact with rabid animals include:

Animal-proofing the house and yard.

Keeping garbage stored in animal-resistant containers.

Screening attic vents and other areas where bats might seek shelter.

If bitten, Boyd advised getting as much information as possible about the animal and reporting it to an animal control officer or police.

Wash the wound with soap and water.

Call a doctor.

Report the contact to the health department at (732) 341-9700, ext. 7502.



from the Ocean County Observer

Published on May 18, 2004

What was he doing trying to touch a stray/feral anyway? I mean, what he has had to go through isn't nice but I can't help thinking he brought it on himself. Most people know to at least wear gloves and use a blanket or towel when trying to trap a feral. I'm sure the cat gave him lots of warning with hissing and spitting etc.

I just saw something on the news this morning in our area, they issued a rabies warning for a section of our city because they found a rabid rabbitt, I believe they said. Honestly I didn't pay too much attention to it. Dori has been vaccinated. It is against the law here for your pet to not get a rabies vaccine every year. The city mails you little reminder cards and will fine you $21 for an unspayed/unneutered animal and only $12 for a spayed/neutered animal who is late getting their rabies shot. When you take an animal to the vet for the 1st time I guess they report to the state you have it and that's how they get the info to send you your reminder cards.

While I was in the Dr's office the other day they had on the health channel and I saw a special about how they have created these things, they are brown squares that have the rabies vaccine inside of it that they drop from low flying planes for the raccoons eat. It said that the men dropping them can't touch them because they are toxic to humans but it showed footage of raccoons eating them. I don't know how long this has been going on, but I think it's a great idea.

Originally Posted by Kumbulu

What was he doing trying to touch a stray/feral anyway? I mean, what he has had to go through isn't nice but I can't help thinking he brought it on himself. Most people know to at least wear gloves and use a blanket or towel when trying to trap a feral. I'm sure the cat gave him lots of warning with hissing and spitting etc.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. There's a type of rabies (common in Western Europe, at least), where even wild animals like foxes become extremely docile and seem to "seek" human company. They salivate, but can't be said to be convulsing and frothing at the mouth. People think the animal is "tame" and "lost", and approach it. Years ago I went to work (at the very center of a city of 600,000) and found a fox sitting on a corner in front of the school, and some of the kids discussing whether to try to pet it. The cops came and shot it, and it tested positive for rabies.

Thanks Tricia, we don't have rabies in Australia, so I don't know much about it.

Trap, Neuter and Return programs are the best defense against rabies in domestic animals and humans -- a TNR'd area will have a group of resident cats that are vaccinated against rabies, who will keep other cats away. More cats are killed for FEAR of rabies (testing them involves destroying the cats) than are known to be killed BY the disease. Support TNR and you get MORE cats immunized and FEWER cats killed. It's so simple!

Linda, you hit the nail on the head!

And I'll just take another moment to remind everyone who works with feral cats that you should consider getting a rabies vaccination yourself. Just call your doctor, and if they give you any problem (haven't heard of one yet who has), simply get a "scrip" from your vet.