Rabies Alert In Effect for East Haven
East Shore District Health Department also issues warning for towns of Branford and North Branford after recent incidents raise some concern.
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The East Shore District Health Department has issued a rabies alert for East Haven — as well as the neighboring towns of Branford and North Branford — after two recent incidents involving rabid animals have raised some concern, according to a WFSB report.
Within the last few days, health department officials have reportedly caught two animals in the district that have tested positive for rabies: a bat that found its way into a local home and a raccoon that attacked a neighborhood dog.
Both animals tested positive for rabies.
Uptick in Reports Last Summer
The alert echoes a similar warning issued by the district late last summer, which noted an uptick in reported and confirmed cases of rabid animals in the shoreline area.
Because of this ongoing threat, health department officials are "advising residents to be vigilant and to protect themselves from contact with wild animals," according to the report.
District officials said residents should also make sure their pets are immunized.
In its report, WFSB stated that health district officials expect the alert to last through to the end of the summer.
Some Protection Tips
Here are a list of precautions to help protect you, your family and your pets:
- Immunize your pets Make sure pets receive regular booster rabies vaccinations to keep their protection continuous. Keep proper documentation of vaccination.
- Do not leave out food for animals: wild, stray or pet.
- Report strange behavior in animals to your local animal control officer. Symptoms of rabies include daytime activity in nocturnal animals such as bats, raccoons, and skunks. Other signs are aggression, awkward movements, or simply that an animal appears “sick.”
- Stop pets from coming into contact with these wild animals when possible. If a pet does have an encounter with a wild animal, the owner should contact their veterinarian immediately.
- Do not attempt to break up a fight between a pet and a wild animal. Protect yourself with rubber gloves and protective clothing when trying to gain control and clean up your pet after a fight.
- If you are bit, wash the area immediately with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention. It is extremely important to seek immediate medical attention if exposed to rabies. If not treated, rabies is almost always fatal.
- All incidents involving a person bit by any animal should be reported to your town’s animal control officer and the Health Department. The Health Department will work with your physician and advise on the need for rabies shots. If the animal can be caught, the town animal control officer will assist in capturing the animal and having it tested for rabies. Testing a suspect animal for rabies is the best approach, if possible.
For more information call East Shore District Health Department at 203-481-4233 or find information at its website: www.ESDHD.org.
donna
8:52 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
This is a serious issue the editor brought our attention to, I hopes the comments get deleted.
Matt Lyons
9:06 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Everyone, this is not a political issue. It is very serious. If a pet or human gets bit by a rabid animal they must go through a series of painful injections to fight the disease.
I wouldn't wish that on anyone or anything for that matter. So lets not turn this into a mud fest.
Keep vigilant if you walk your dog or let your cat out of the house. Talk with your children about the dangers of getting near wild animals.
Remember its not just raccoons that carry the disease. coyotes squirrels and other animals can have it also.
Luigi (Jan 18th 2011) the original
9:21 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Well said Matt. There are a lot of wooded areas in East Haven for animals to burrow. Remember that most of there critters are nocturnal, so if you see them out during the daylight hours, it could mean they are sick.
KEEP THE CHILDREN and your PETS SAFE
Jacobo Arbenz
10:10 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Good points Luigi. These animals usually do not come out during the day. If you see one, avoid it. If it acts strangely or is aggresive, call Animal Control (203) 468–3249 for assistance.
Ginger DeMatteo
9:36 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Why don't you people grow up. This is a serious story. Having 2 dogs of my own, I am interested in this story, nit this nonsense by supposed adults. One of them the DTC chair? No wonder this town is in such a mess. Juvenile.
Robert D.Hoff
10:40 am on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
As a pet owner and someone who has worked in the animal care field for 20 years as well as having various pets my entire life there are several things that people need to be reminded of some of which may appear to be overkill but in the end all of which will have a positive effect on the situation and may help save the life of your families pet or prevent contact with a sick animal and human.
1>Place all trash in a metal trash can or place in an enclosed area where trash containing food will not attract wild animals.
2>check your pets records if they have not had a rabies vaccine within the last year make an appointment with your local veternarian to have your pets given a rabies booster vaccine.
3>Keep all small pets such as cats inside where they will be safe and less likely to come into contact with sick animals.
4>Do not leave any food outside to feed wild cats may actually be helping to attract and feed any sick animals that may be carrying rabies.
5>If your pet is bitten by a stray animal or animal that your not sure of the other animals vaccine history take your pet to your local veternarian and have a rabies boost vaccine given.
These steps may seem like going overboard or too much but they may save the life of your pet and protect your family as in order to test your family pet for rabies they have to decapitate the head of your pet have it sent to Hartford and have it examined.
Michelle Petroccio
12:08 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Great points Robert. I have 2 dogs & 4 kids. We live in a partially wooded neighborhood surrounded by trees and homes with pets and children in EH, & have a brook/river behind our house. Even though we have a fenced backyard, many smaller animals who could be affected by rabies can still enter the yard under the fencing. These are major concerns for parents and pet owners. After dark that we let our dogs out, one on a 30 foot lead and the other, loose in the fenced yard, at any time they could be stricken with rabies by an unwanted visitor. At times, one of the kids will be outside with the dogs, but not late at night. People also need to be aware of using airtight tops on garbage pails as well. Racoons & stray cats will make every effort to get into them if they smell any kind of food product whatsoever. One morning, after one of our first light snowfalls, my oldest son was leaving for the bus around 6:30 a.m., he found rather large animal tracks in our driveway & along perimeters of our front yard that did not belong to our dogs,that much resembled footprints from a coyote or wolf. We took pics & visited Owen Little at EH Animal Shelter to show them to him. He referred me to DEEP, I em mailed them the pics. They were believed to be that of a large canine of some type, they were kind enough to send me links on protecting your kids & pets. I'll try to add the photos and links to this article in the hope of creating more awareness in EH & surrounding areas.
Lesley Ferguson Simoni
12:00 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Please vaccinate your pets against rabies. if an unvaccinated pet has contact with a rabid animal you have the choice of quaratining your animal for MONTHS at the shelter or having it euthanized and tested for rabies. Please don't let this happen, you can even get low cost rabies vaccinations at Petco. It is absolutely worth it to have this done.
Julie Weisberg
4:09 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Everyone: Thank you to Michelle and Julie for adding their pics! And also an addiitonal thanks to Michelle for passing along some additional info about coyotes that's been added to the gallery. It's particularly relative given this comment from Sharese Pelkey-Clark on this article posted our Facebook page (http://ow.ly/9egSO): I can't tell you how many times my Mom called about sick coyotes in her condos and one even tried to chase her up on the deck. She called the cops, they never come. This news is no news to me, but maybe now they will do something about it."
Ginger DeMatteo
5:58 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Julie, we had a rabid raccoon in our neighborhood several years ago. The police came, and actually put it down right on our front lawn! It was scary, as the kids were young, and we had 2 dogs. We also called last year for a skunk we believed to be rabid as well, and again, they came. This one got away, though.
Fischer Cats have also been spotted in the area. They will attack small animals. I have a German Shepard and a Shih Tsu, and I never let them out in the yard alone after dark. I go with them with a light!
Julie Weisberg
6:45 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ginger: Thank you for sharing your experience. When I lived along Long Ridge Road in Stamford many years ago, I was actually in the backyard — in the middle of the afternoon — with my dog, Gypsy. And a rabid raccoon came out of nowhere and literally began chasing us up the hill. Thankfully, we got inside our home fine. And animal control came when will called as well. But the poor skunk was never found. I think the bottom line is just for everyone to be careful and mindful, when it comes to the wild animals... that being said, it's really interesting about the Fischer cats. Since I moved here last fall, I have been continually pleasantly surprised by the variety of flora and fauna in town. I'm really looking forward to getting out there and taking some pictures this spring — as well as to see the images our readers have to share as well!
Michelle Petroccio
10:43 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thank you for adding the info Julie, I felt the need to share very important.
Patrick Madley
12:25 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Completely ridiculous how some people turn this into a joke. This is a very serious problem and I hope that it gets controlled ASAP. Please keep your pets vaccinated because they really will protect them in the long run.
Michelle Petroccio
10:43 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Just an F.Y.I. to all, there have been many skunks out and about lately in the Foxon area of East Haven. Be wary of your cats and dogs when they are outdoors.
Ginger DeMatteo
10:55 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
You are correct, Michelle. Unfortunately, we found this out the hard way. Yes, my shepard got skunked. Thankfully, only on her face, she was smart enough to run away and not continue to chase the skunk. But, oh, what a long night it was!!! We had to keep her on the porch until the next day when we could get the proper supplies. FYI for those who don't know...do not put water on your pet when they are skunked. It releases and locks in the oils. Best to use a paste of baking soda, dawn dish detergent and lemon juice (or white vinegar). Works great!!
Michelle Petroccio
11:26 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Ginger, early this morning, my husband let our dogs out and they were barking uncontrollably at a skunk (after daylight) ran through our yard. Thankfully, my babies did not get sprayed. Later on I had to run an errand, and the little critter was out on the main road for vulture prey. Sadly dead, and very stinky! Quite many years ago when I lived in Trumbull, I had the misfortune of my dog being sprayed in the face. It was awful. We used baking soda, lemon juice and tomato juice to get rid of the smell on her, but to add to the problem, she ran back into the house, and dove face first onto the hardwood floor in our living room, eyes burning, and buried her snout under the sofa. Needless to say, we got the smell out of the house by cleaning the floor and disposing of the sofa. My clothing was covered in the stench of it all. I jumped into my car to make it to the grocery store before it closed, and the odor remained in the car. I had to have the interior completely detailed, and my clothing dry cleaned. The clerk in the store left her register to hurry down the aisles with me to get what I needed and get me out of the store rather quickly! Comical? yes, it was, but not funny!
Ginger DeMatteo
11:38 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012
Oh, that is comical, but not funny! Yes, our Echo got right by me before I realized she was sprayed, and ran right to my room and jumped on the bed, where she usually is welcomed. She proceeded to wipe her face all over my bedspread! Needless to say, we threw that out! It took a few days for the smell to dissipate.
About 12 years ago we had a cocker spaniel who was not intimidated by anything. She got sprayed and instead of running away, continued to chase the skunk. She was sprayed over and over, so much she was soaked as if it were raining. She shook off in my kitchen...let's just say it was not pretty. Poor baby had to sleep on the porch for 2 months. Luckily, it was summer!
Skunk spray is definately the worst part about owning a dog, but we wouldn't trade them for anything!!