Posted on 07/08/2009 11:56:23 AM PDT by Darnright
The orange and white stray cat was brought to Vinton Veterinary Hospital on June 26th and tested positive for rabies four days later.
A notice went up on neighbors doors in the Garden City area of Roanoke City. The cat had been seen in the 1500 block of Hillview Avenue.
Heather Reed is a Veterinary Technician at Vinton Veterinary Hospital and now has to undergo rabies shots after being bitten by the rabid cat.
She says, “I was at home when the health department called me and um got a little frantic because i am five months pregnant and i didn’t know how that would affect me.“
Reed is one of three people who work at the vet clinic and had to get shots because of the rabid cat.
Someone brought the stray cat here to Vinton Veterinary Hospital because it had wounds on its paws. It was acting aggressive when it got to the facility. Then it got sicker and was euthanized. When the test was sent off for rabies, it came back positive.
WSLS 10 has learned the cat that tested positive had been at seen at a home that has had five visits from animal control because of calls about problems with stray cats. An animal control officer also had to start rabies shots as a precaution.
See video:
http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/5_people_are_undergoing_rabies_treatment_because_of_a_rabid_cat_in_south_ea/40777/
Video at link:
What say ye lovers and feeders of feral cats?
Man, I work in Roanoke and did see a blurb of this on the local sites. Hope the pregnant lady and baby are OK.
I used to catch feral cats when I lived in Tampa using a trap of course...and would call animal control to pick them up. NO kidding I captured at least 30 in just a few months while staying with my mom and finishing up some college classes while my hubby and kids stayed in Virginia. I did feel sorry for the animals, but yes...they are full of disease and spray all over the place to mark territory. Not only that, but they infect tame/house pets who fight with them outside.
I spay/neuter my pets and they stay in the house most of the time. If you cannot afford a pet...don’t get one!!!
But cats are so cleeeeeeeeean...
I had to get rabies treatments last summer. Tough experience. I’ll pray for her, the baby, and all of them.
Look out Buddy, them FR Feral Cat Lovers, are fixin' to pounce. It happened to me two weeks ago.
OMG PINKY STRIKES AGAIN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR_LHlFwlhk
>But cats are so cleeeeeeeeean...<
Yeah, I know. One thing the video didn’t make clear. Is that house occupied, or is it abandoned, yet another victim of Stimulus ‘09? And, Virginia recently (in the past couple of years) passed a law forcing vets to send in contact information on anyone who brings their animal in for a rabies vaccine.
The info is then used by the person’s locality to get them to purchase a license. The opponents of that bill (and there were many) tried to warn that such a law could mean fewer people would keep up their vaccinations for rabies. Some folks went so far as to take their dogs to get rabies shots from vets in West Va, Maryland or to North Carolina to keep their names out of some database, not necessarily to keep from buying a license.
That said, it sounds like this cat was most likely yet one more feral or stray. It obviously had never had its rabies vaccine.
And here I thought logic and reason reigned supreme at FR.
Conibear 220, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRQxdvT0J8I
I use Havahart live traps to make sure I’m not accidentally hurting, “fluffy” the neighbor’s cat.
Extermination is only accomplished after I’ve confirmed a nuisance animal has been trapped and then it is done humanely.
I take no pleasure in eliminating feral cats and wish people would stop supporting their breeding.
I’ve owned a cat myself but gave it to a family member who was dealing with a great personal loss. It lived the life a king.
I guess I’m just a “cruel” person. ;)
Why did you get rabbies shots?
My older brother used to trap for fur 30 years ago. He would trap muskrat, racoon, and fox. One rule he had was “dispatching” feral cats and dogs that he caught in sets intended for wild animals. He had a fungo bat with a couple of 16 penny nails hammered in the top. One crushing blow between the eyes and it was over quickly. The only cats and dogs he would set free had to be wearing a collar.
I got bit by a bat and had to get them also. Sucked. Plus I hypocondriacted myself constantly thinking, do I feel hot? Does water still taste good. Why do these goth chicks look so hot to me?
The animals that were microchipped were returned to their owners after payment of a fine.
The animals suitable for adoption were put up for adoption.
The unsuitable ones were humanely euthanized in accordance with local laws.
I take no pleasure in it, but feral cats are more than just a nuisance.
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