Rabid cat causes stir at area shelter
A quarantine sign posted at Washington Area Humane Society after a kitten there was found to have rabies
Larry greets a visitor Friday at Washington Area Humane Society. Larry is among cats not affected by a rabies quarantine.
Washington Area Humane Society last week euthanized Chance, an orange and white male kitten who showed symptoms of rabies, and, after the feline’s remains tested positive, three shelter staffers who were exposed to the animal are being treated.
The kitten was a resident of the shelter in Eighty Four since May, when he arrived with puncture wounds of the head, said Laurelle Dicks, manager of the shelter. The cat was vaccinated for rabies at that time. Health officials said this would have slowed the appearance of symptoms.
As news of the rabid kitten spread, Dicks said “a handful” of people called the humane society, which referred them to the state Department of Health.
In a news release, Health Department spokeswoman Holli Senior urged anyone who was bitten or exposed to saliva, fluids or tissue from the cat while visiting the Humane Society between Nov. 25 and Dec. 4 to contact the State Health Center in Washington County at 724-223-4540, which is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. People also can call 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) at any time with questions or concerns.
Those who adopted animals during the time frame will be contacted directly.
Exposure includes having been bitten, scratched or had saliva, nervous system fluid or tissue from an animal enter a person’s open wound or mucous membranes, such as eyes, nose or mouth. Under these circumstances, individuals should seek immediate medical attention.
Dicks estimated the kitten’s age at 7 months. On Dec. 4, he was wobbly and moving in circles. He was banging his head and tried to attack people who were in his line of sight. Rabies is an inflammatory infection that affects an animal’s brain and central nervous system, according to the Pet MD website. After the staff observed his actions for just a few minutes, the humane society veterinarian said Chance was euthanized immediately. His body was driven from the shelter on Route 136 to a laboratory in Pittsburgh, and once the presence of the rabies virus was confirmed the next day, the Department of Health quarantined for 90 days all felines that may have come in contact with Chance.
Russell Rosendale, president of Washington Area Humane Society board of directors, said in a statement the shelter’s staff took immediate steps to segregate the animal in question from other animals and contacted the Health Department and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. “The health, safety and well-being of WAHS staff, visitors, volunteers and the animals is paramount and is an issue that our organization takes very seriously,” he said.
The local humane society has about 45 cats in residence.
Prospective adoptive families were undeterred as they looked at nine kittens and cats in a room unaffected by the quarantine. Other felines who never came in contact with Chance also will be available for adoption.
“This can happen any time you take in stray animals,” Dicks said. “We’re lucky it doesn’t happen very often.”
The Health Department reminds all Pennsylvanians they should avoid contact with feral animals of any kind, as it can be difficult to tell whether the animal is rabid. All animals that can be vaccinated – cats, dogs and ferrets – should be given the vaccine to protect them in case they are ever exposed to a rabid animal.
More information is available at the website www.health.state.pa.us.