Rabid dog bites volunteer in Umgeni Park
The animal welfare organisation advises that pet owners need to be more serious about vaccinating their dogs against rabies.
A dog that was rescued on Brown’s Drift Road in Umgeni Park last week tested positive for rabies on Monday.
Also read: Department launches free rabies vaccination campaign in north Durban
Kerry Janke, founder of SAFE Animal Rescue and Fostering Network, said they were called out at 06:30 on February 27 by a motorist who said the dog had been run over by a car.
“One of our inspectors, Shaun Janke, responded immediately and saw that the dog was displaying neurological behavior associated with rabies. While trying to secure the dog, he got bitten,” she said.
She said the day before the rescue, the same dog tried to bite a woman and her colleague when they tried to feed it.
“They tried to feed it in an attempt to get the dog inside their place of work so that they could get help. Luckily they were not bitten,” said Kerry.
The dog was taken to Ashburn Vet who confirmed that the symptoms displayed were suspicious, and it had to be put down and sent to the State Vet for testing.
“We received the results on Monday that the dog was positive for rabies. Shaun is fully vaccinated as we deal with rabid dogs on a regular basis. His results for immunity to rabies came back yesterday – thankfully his immunity is high so he does not have to go for any further vaccines,” said Kerry.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that pet owners vaccinate their dogs against rabies as it is fatal.
“Even in a time when there is a vast amount of information available on rabies and the danger it poses, and when there are free rabies clinics facilitated all over Durban, people are still not taking this issue seriously enough,” she said.
“There is currently a free rabies clinic starting this week throughout the north Durban area for both cats and dogs. Please get your animals vaccinated. It could save your and your animal’s life. Rabies is 100% fatal to both humans and animals, but it is also 100% preventable,” she said.
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