Rabies Virus Information

WHAT IS RABIES?

Rabies is a viral disease which is transmitted through contact with blood or saliva from an Infected animal In most cases, this means through a bite wound It is not an airborne disease and is not spread simply by having a wild animal walk through your yard.

The virus has a very short Life span in an infected animal Rabies virus travels from the bite wound site through the nerves to the brain stem, causing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and the animal dies within 10 to 14 days It is not a disease that all wild animals have, or that they could carry for long periods of time.

WHAT ANIMALS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE INFECTED WITH THE DISEASE?

All warm-blooded mammals [ humans) can receive the disease through exposure to an infected carrier The species of animals considered a high risk for transmitting rabies virus are raccoons, skunks, foxes, woodchucks, and bats It is extremely rare to find rabies virus in squirrels, chipmunks, other small rodents, rabbits or opossums.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FAMILY FROM RABIES?

Never touch wild animals no mailer how ‘cute’ they are. Enjoy wildlife from afar.

Avoid any direct contact with stray animals. Stray dogs and cats can be a risk as they may not have been vaccinated against rabies Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. The average person is clueless as to their care and this would pose a great risk. Remember they are not pets.

Do not try to rescue or care for injured or orphaned wildlife. Call your animal control officer or your local wildlife rehabilitator if you find an animal that needs help.

Make sure that your trash cans and pet foods are secured so they do not attract wild or stray animals.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY PETS FROM RABIES?

The best way to prevent rabies is to make sure your pets get vaccinated against rabies and keep the vaccines current.

  • Walk your dog on a leash. Never let them roam freely where wildlife may be present and can interact with them If you allow your pet loose in a fenced area, always check first to make sure there is not a wild animal wandering through thus avoiding any conflicts.
  • Always consider keeping your cats indoors.
  • Contact animal control or your local wildlife rehabilitator if you observe a wild animal acting strangely. Remember not all wild animals are rabid. Because we live in a rural area where healthy animals co-exist, it is not uncommon to see wild animals, even during the daylight hours.
  • If an animal bites your pet, limit the persons immediately handling your pet and always wear gloves. Report it to your animal control officer and call your veterinary immediately for further advice.
  • Get your pets spayed or neutered. Pets that are fixed are less likely to leave home, become strays, and produce more stray animals.
  • Make sure your pet gets and wears their rabies vaccination tags They should also wear their name and your address on a tag with a current phone number I would also highly recommend contacting you veterinarian for information on having a microchip implant for your pet It’s fairly inexpensive, and a positive way of identifying your pet should he become lost or stolen.
Bloomingdale 973-838-0158
Wanaque 973-835-5600
Riverdale 973-835-0034
Butler 973-838-4100
Pompton Lakes 973-835-0400
Your Animal Control Officer 973-839-8959
Wildlife Freedom Inc 973-839-4597

This rabies information is provided by Wildlife Freedom Inc in an effort to make the public more aware of rabies. Rabies is a serious disease, not one to be taken lightly. However, if we take the precautions listed above you can lessen the chances coming in contact with a rabid animal.

RABIES CLINIC SCHEDULE