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Supervisors approve 60-day action in county

Rabies is taking a heavy toll on wild animals and threatening pets and people in all parts of Santa Cruz County, Lt. Jose Peña told county supervisors on Dec. 2. Peña, supervisor of Animal Care and Control, asked for a countywide rabies quarantine for the next 60 days. The supervisors voted 3-0 to approve the declaration, requested jointly with the health services department.

The 60-day quarantine began Wednesday, Dec. 2.

"Yesterday, a skunk went after one of our officers," Peña said.

A total of 52 animals, mostly skunks that wandered into areas where people could observe them, have tested positive for the rabies virus, Peña said. But the body count includes two horses, one cow and a feral cat. All were apparently bitten by infected wild animals.

"We've never seen these numbers in our county before," he said.

Peña described rabies as a viral infection transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. The virus attacks the nervous system and once symptoms appear, the disease is fatal, he said.

"No one has ever survived rabies," said Nogales veterinarian Dr. Simon Escalada in an interview.

The quarantine requires:

. All pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies.

Animal Control is buying a large supply of vaccine at a discount and will soon offer low-cost rabies clinics in Tubac, Rio Rico and Nogales, Peña said.

. All dogs are to be confined to the owner's property or on a leash no more than six feet long. Any dogs found at large may be picked up by Animal Control and disposed of according to state law.

. No feeding of wild animals and no pet food left outside past sundown.

. Compost bins must be covered and secured against skunks and rodents.

. No human interference with wild animal trapping

. Any animal that bites a person is to be handled according to Arizona Revised Statute 11-1014.

This statute requires an unvaccinated dog or cat to be quarantined at the county pound or at a veterinary hospital for at least 10 days. If the animal shows signs of rabies, it will be destroyed. But a vaccinated animal may be confined and observed at home.

If a dog fights with a skunk and is bitten, that is considered a positive exposure, Escalada said. An unvaccinated dog should be euthanized or confined for six months, because it can take that long for symptoms of rabies to appear.

Escalada described the symptoms: The animal may drop its jaw, be unable to swallow and appear disoriented.

He warned people to be wary of any wild animal that's "not scared of you," often a nocturnal skunk that is out in the daytime. Residents may call animal control at (520) 761-7860 to report a suspicious animal.

A rabies vaccination is supposed to last three years for an adult dog or cat, Escalada said. But he urged owners who live in areas where skunks roam to revaccinate their pets if it's been more than a year since the last shot.

"Don't risk it," Escalada said.

By Denise Holley
Published Friday, December 4, 2009 9:38 AM MST