Dubious Distinction for State of PA

We once had a dog named George who went head to head with a raccoon and lived to show off his scars. He also spent a few months in quarantine at the vet because the raccoon was rabid. We had to send the head away to be tested since we reported the incident to the Animal Control unit of our Township. George, by the way, was up to date on all his vaccinations. Our vet was just being super cautious since we had small children at the time.

I am reminded of George's raccoon encounter when I read recently that Pennsylvania is on track to lead the United States in the incidence of pet rabies. Through November of 2010, the state reported 70 cases of rabies in domestic animals. In 2009, the number of cases was 65.

The leading culprits for the spread of this disease are, you guessed it, raccoons, with feral cats coming in second. To combat the problem, USDA Wildlife Services began dropping an oral vaccine to raccoons in packets of food. The program, started in 2001, extends from Maine to Alabama and seems to be working.

"Everything east of that line [where we drop the packets], we have raccoon rabies; everything west, there is not a documented case," said Harris Glass, director of USDA Wildlife Services in Pennsylvania. Since 1975, the CDC reports that about 80% of reported cases of rabies, occur in wild animals.

Bottom line: keep your pets vaccinated and under supervision on your property. Lock up your trash in a shed and should your pet have an unfortunate encounter with a raccoon, report it immediately to your local authorities and seek medical attention. Rabies is nearly always fatal if it is untreated.