WHITE RIVER – A rabid dog has bitten various other canines in the town. It is therefore possible that numerous unvaccinated dogs in and around White River are infected with rabies and their owners are oblivious to this.
It was confirmed that an Africanis dog in the area had rabies.
According to Ms Eunice van Niekerk from White River SPCA, owners are required to take their dogs to the veterinarian if they suspect that it had an encounter with the rabies-infected Africanis.
“The dog was dropped off at our holding kennels on Sunday October 3. She had a note on her cage which read: ‘Good morning. The dog’s name is Roxy. I cannot keep her anymore as she has bitten other dogs. I fear that she may bite my child. Sorry’.”
The next morning Roxy was put down. Her brain was extracted and sent to veterinarian experts for rabies tests. On Monday Van Niekerk received confirmation that she had been infected.
“This means we may have a horrific situation on our hands,” she told Lowvelder.
“We know that she had bitten other dogs, but we do not know where or which one she had bitten. Rabies is highly infectious and very dangerous. A dog does not have to be bitten to be infected. If it comes into contact with the saliva of a rabid dog, it can be infected. This could easily lead to a rabies breakout. We appeal to owners to have their canines tested,” she said.
Van Niekerk also requested Roxy’s previous owner or anyone with information on the dog to come forward as a matter of urgency.
Read White River Post’s interview with the SPCA on rabies here
Owners are compelled by law (Animals Diseases Act 35 of 1984) to ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies at the age of three months, followed by a second vaccination more than 30 days later and less than nine months after the first, and every year thereafter.
Dog owners with queries can make use of this contact list:
• Nelspruit State Vet on 013-766-7326,
• White River SPCA on 013-750-0240
• Nelspruit SPCA on 013-753-3582
• Casterbridge Animal Hospital on 013-751-3149
• White River Animal Clinic on 013-751-3866.
