The Carelessness of an Animal Shelter

I stumbled across this report about an Animal Shelter that took in a rabid dog, when I think of the rabies virus I immediately picture Where The Red Fern Grows. One of my all-time favorites, I immediately knew this article was sad. This report summarizes the public health investigation, which used animal shelter records and public notification to identify possible human and animal contacts of the rabid dog. Among 32 persons who might have been exposed to the rabid dog at the shelter, 21 persons, including nine shelter employees and one volunteer, received PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). In addition, the 25 dogs in the shelter with the rabid dog were euthanized. Among 25 other dogs without an up-to-date rabies vaccination that were adopted or claimed from the shelter and might have been exposed, 11 were euthanized, 13 were isolated for 6 months in their owners' homes, and one was unintentionally killed. I was horrified upon reading how so many animals lost their lives, due to the careless actions of this shelter’s employees. As a passionate animal lover, I strongly suggest that you get your pets vaccinated.