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By Rose Hooper
Clover, the Cothran family cat, lost his life last week due to
a rabid raccoon, the first-ever confirmed case of raccoon rabies
in Jackson County.
"We learned a valuable lesson – vaccinate your pet against
rabies and keep the vaccine current," said Rebecca Cothran
of Cashiers.
"Clover had been vaccinated as a kitten, but we hadn't kept
the vaccines up," she said of their 3-year-old tabby who
had to be euthanized following the rabid encounter.
Chris Tyson, director of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, said
the raccoon's body was sent off for testing and came back positive.
"If the cat had it shots, we could have given him a booster
and saved him," said Tyson.
Charles Stephens of the Jackson County Health Department said
in the past 10 years the county has had two cases of bat rabies
and one fox rabies, but this is the first raccoon rabies here.
On a positive note, Tyson said a rabies vaccination clinic has
been scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Cashiers Village
Veterinary Clinic from 10 a.m. until noon.
"I can't urge people enough to bring in their cats and dogs
to get their shots and to keep them current," said Tyson,
pointing out that dogs and cats over 4 months are required to
be vaccinated.
"It is sad to loose your cat," said Cothran. "You
feel a responsibility knowing you didn't keep the shots up. It's
a lesson learned, and we hope we can keep it from happening to
others."
She said she also learned that rabies incidences are highest in
September, that the No. 1 carrier of rabies is raccoons and that
animals listed most often as recipients are cats.
"The cards were stacked against us," Cothran said.
Clover's encounter with the raccoon happened around 6:30 a.m.
Friday morning, Sept. 12.
"We heard strange noises and went outside and saw the raccoon
and Clover fighting under the car. My husband, Jim, let the dogs
out, and they shook the raccoon until it let Clover loose,"
said Cothran.
"My daughter, Madison, who is 11, said, ‘I wonder if
that raccoon has rabies?' and I thought, ‘Of course, that's
it. It's too odd of an encounter... fighting the cat right by
the house and making strange, crying noises."
Jim Cothran shot and killed the raccoon with a pellet gun. The
couple placed the raccoon's body in plastic garbage bags and called
the Jackson County Health Department, and Tyson was dispatched
to the Bull Pen Road home, about a mile and half from the South
Carolina line.
"The Cothrans did the right thing in notifying us,"
said Stephens. "We quarantined the cat until we got the results
back from the state lab last Thursday, Sept. 18. It's unfortunate
we had to put the cat down because it didn't have its shots, but
the dogs were current in their vaccinations."
The raccoon's saliva is what you have to watch out for, said Tyson,
cautioning that any body parts in contact with a rabid animal
should be washed immediately with soap and water, and a doctor
and animal control agents should be contacted.
Raccoon rabies (Procyon lotor) is carried mainly by raccoons and
through the animal's saliva. Humans and other animals can become
infected through a cut, scratch or bite from a raccoon with rabies,
or even if the virus comes in contact with the tissues of the
mouth, nose or eyes. If untreated, rabies is fatal.
Damage to the brain causes the visible symptoms of rabies, said
Tyson. Animals may become depressed and retreat to isolated places
or they may lose their fear of humans. They generally show signs
of paralysis, such as abnormal facial expressions, dropping heads,
sagging jaws of paralysed hind limbs. They may show excitement
or aggression, bite at themselves or attack other animals. These
bouts may alternate with periods of depression.
"In the early stages of the disease, the animal may show
no signs at all," said Tyson. "What makes it difficult
with raccoons is that they can carry the disease for two years,
sometimes showing no signs at all."
But rabies is fatal and all animals that have the virus will develop
symptoms and eventually die of the disease.
Rabid raccoons first became a problem in Florida in the early
1940s and the animal's migration has been charted up the east
coast at a steady rate of 10 to 20 miles a year. In 1999, Ontario
experienced its first case of raccoon rabies.
Since there is no cure for rabies, prevention is essential. Here
are some steps to follow:
- Have your pets vaccinated; keep their rabies shots up to date.
- Put collars and tags on your dogs and cats so they won't be
mistaken for wild or feral animals.
- Don't let your pets roam free, especially at night.
- Do not leave pet food outside between meal periods and frequently
clean up bird seed from the ground and around feeders. Keep all
garbage in tightly covered containers.
- Don't handle wildlife and teach children not to approach animals,
even if they seem friendly.
- Avoid animals that act strangely. Report any wild animals or
pets you see behaving strangely to the local animal control agency.
- Raccoon-proof your home by covering up potential entrances,
such as uncapped chimneys and openings in attics, roofs and basements.
Hang ammonia-soaked cotton rags near the suspected entrance and
keep the area brightly lit. Raccoons dislike loud noises, bright
lights and strong smells.
For more information, call Tyson at the Jackson County Animal
Shelter at 586-6138.
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