Look at Dr. Murphy's PowerPoint shows (1) Zoonoses, (2) Rabies. ( Here are the handouts for Dr Murphy's slides: Zoonoses, Rabies ) Click on VDH Web and examine the Rabies Information. Also look at the CDC Update on Rabies Zoonoses. Then, return to the epidemiology home page and select the Fact sheets and examine the fact sheets on Lyme Disease and Tick-borne diseases. Look at the USGS West Nile Virus Map for various species infections, then look at the bird map and click on Virginia to determine how widespread the WNV is in birds in 2005. Also, look at the latest (2005) Compendium of Measures To Prevent Disease and Injury associated with Animals in Public Settings with special attention to the Recommendation for Rabies Prevention.
Review Dr. Buttery's PowerPoint slide show (PDF Version of Animal Control) then visit the following set of links to examine the issues of animal control as a public health and community health issue as you go review the attached information? You will find the answers to the question posed below at these web sites. Also determine what the various sites have in common.
Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health & Welfare>
Fairfax County Animal Control
City of Seattle Animal Control
Humane Society of the United States
Animal Shelter Information
Animal Poison Control
Animal Control Officer Training/Standards
The controlling law is found in the Virginia Code, in the Title devoted to the Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health. The director is a public health trained veterinarian. He is responsible for all domestic animals, most of which are found on farms.
Using the Web examine the home pages of the Fairfax County Animal Control and the Animal Control Department of the City of Seattle, Animal Control agencies to view the services they provide and their philosophies of operation.
Before leaving this page be sure to look carefully at the AVHA statement on Feral Cats (below). Why would I want you to consider this?
Wild animals are the responsibility of the Department of Game and Wildlife.
Changes to animal control state law starts in the Committees on Agriculture of the State House or Senate.
A serious hazard from domestic animals is Rabies. It can be passed on to herds of cows, sheep etc. With development of cities and depredation by loose (feral) animals, animal bites are now as much a problem as dog/cat-to-human transfer of rabies. Current law requires immunization of domestic animals against rabies. More recently leash laws, standards for kennels, and licensing requirements have developed. Under the state system, localities can only enact local laws when permitted by state law, which limits the amount a locality can charge for licenses. Because of antisocial behavior by many individuals, new laws protect animals from people, not just people from animals. These include codes on care, feeding, housing, and abuse of animals, including prohibitions against animal fighting.
In addition to rabies a wide array of potential pathogens are both carried and transmitted by animals, including Lyme Disease and Psittacosis.
Recently, several cities, including Richmond, were concerned about the increase in rabies among cats, the move into the cities by raccoons and the presence of large numbers of unrestrained dogs. The desire was to control wandering of all loose domestic animals as well as pay for control of the animals. City staff worked closely with the humane society to get enabling legislation passed.
Consider whether the public at large should pay for animal control by use of user fees (taxes) on animal owners or from the general tax base.
In Richmond, the division of animal control has moved periodically between the police and health departments. In Texas most animal control resided in either local heath departments or was contracted to humane societies.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of where the program lies and how you can encourage community support.
How can epidemiology be used to garner support for improved animal control?
Enforcing animal control laws in the courts is extremely difficult. We have the same problems, in the courts, prosecuting animal control violations that we have with restaurants or septic tanks regulations. If we have to go to court we have been unable to change someone’s behavior.
Animals running loose often form packs and attack and bite people.
They also defecate and urinate on public and private property and damage property.
Some breeds are more of a problem than others.
Animal rights groups and the ACLU often prevent protection of the public.
The US Humane society, and its state & local branches, work hard to ensure a fair balance between the privilege of owning an animal versus protection of the public and the animals.
Review CDC advice on preventing Animal Bites. Also the CDC report of nonfatal dog bites in 2001 ( note the problem that many federal reports get old quickly, this was published in 2004.)
Consider the Following Questions:
Which animals in Virginia now present a significant likelihood of transmitting rabies?
What can the community do to protect itself from out of control animals?
What can individuals do?
How could you reduce animal bites?
See this HSUS .pdf Report on Preventing Animal Bites
Who is most likely to be attacked?
Are there circumstances under which attacks may not be illegal?
Why are pets are a hazard to your health?
What diseases can they transmit? What can be done to reduce the hazard?
What is a domestic animal and why is it important to define them?
What animals can be protected by Rabies Vaccination?
What regulations may be available to control non-domestic animals? (Consider Bubba & Sundance).
How would you capture loose animals?
How would you restrain animals?
References:
The Ecology of Stray Dogs (A study of Free-Ranging Urban Animals). Beck, A. York Press.
Baltimore, 1973
Social Behavior in Animals. Tinbergen, N. Pub. Barton and Tanner (London) 1966.
Dog Bite Related Fatalities US 1996-96MMWR May 30, 1997 P463.
Dog Bites recognized as Public Health Problem. JAMA Jan 28, 1977, Vol. 277 No 4, P 278.
Recommendation of the Immunization Practice Advisory Committee. MMWR March 22, 1991. Vol. 40
p1 Rabies Prevention US – 1991
Zoonotic Diseases. Where to go for advice. Animal Sheltering March-April 1996.
Human Rabies in Florida. JAMA Sept 16 1996, Vol. 270 No 11 P 865.
The Black Widow Spider. NEJM. June 5. 1997, Vol. 336, Number 23.
Emerging Infectious Diseases. AFP. Jan 1977. Strausbaugh, L.;
Deer Ticks and the agents of Lyme Disease & Human Granulocytic Erlichiosis in a New York City
Park. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 3(3):353-355. 1977 Daniels, TJ ET Al
Zoonotic Diseases: Where to go
TIPS FOR PET OWNERS
Pet owners are far more likely to contract most Zoonotic diseases from contaminated food or drinking water than they are from their healthy companion animals. Still, as added precautions, pet owners should follow these Safety tips:
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Where to Go for More Information
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Organizations Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333;
404-639-3311. Books Animal Sheltering/March-April 1996 |
World Wide Web Pages Web pages below provide information about zoonotic diseases. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/cdc.html
Back issues of Shelter Sense |
Read the AVMA current policy statement on Feral; and Abandoned Cats.