We are approaching the Dog Days of summer. This expression evolved from the star Sirius, which is known as the “Dog Star” — the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). As it occurred in the hottest time of the year, it affected dogs adversely and made them behave abnormally.
This period begins July 3 according to the Old Farmers Almanac, and lasts 40 days, which has a scriptural significance. It coincides with the least rainfall in the Northern Hemisphere, but other documentation shows it not beginning until July 23 and ending a month later. Irrespective, judging by the amount of animal bites and other activities that have occurred around here, it must have started in June.
We have had a steady stream of dog bites, most without provocation. When someone seeks medical attention for a bite, that provider is required to notify us within 24 hours of treatment. More often than not, the pet does not have a current vaccination, so it is held for a 10-day observation period at the shelter.
If it is not declared vicious, the owner can reclaim the animal at a cost of approximately $100; remember, rabies vaccinations are $8 when done during countywide clinics. If it is declared vicious, a steel-gauged pen with cement padding must be built to specifications before the animal is moved there. This cost normally results in the animal being surrendered and it is euthanized subsequently.
Recently, a fox bit a person off of Bee Gee Road. I recall living in that area when rabies came back to Robeson County in the early 1990s. I was grilling and watching the kids swim in a pool that was fenced inside of an enclosure fence when I noticed a funny looking dog sitting down watching the kids play. As I looked closer I noticed that it was a fox and I chased it off. I told the kids to stay away from the wild animals, particularly those who do not belong out in the daytime.
A few weeks later, my oldest was in her tree house — actually my construction skills were so poor it wouldn’t have made a good tree stand — and she yelled “fox!” and came scrambling down the tree. I told her that staying in the tree was safer at that point but at least some of my lesson was absorbed.
In this recent attack, it turns out the neighbor was feeding the fox and other wild animals. This fox had just had kits and there were actually two families of foxes as the other female got run over. As the fox was rabid, a concerted effort was made to capture all loose animals in the area, which included feral cats and raccoons. The lesson here is not to feed the animals that are lurking in the woods.
As a reminder, vaccinating your animal will help you keep it. A lady had her two cats get in a fight with a rabid raccoon. The animals did not have current vaccinations for rabies. The outcome? Both animals were euthanized because the only other recourse is six months at a veterinary clinic at the owner’s expense — if a clinic will accept this responsibility.
Quick interesting facts: Which breed of dog is 6 percent of the animal population in the U.S. but accounts for 65 percent of the fatal attacks? Most dog bites are to children, but which breed bites adults equally often as children? Which breed has its owner’s family more often being the fatality? If you said pit bull as the answer to each question, you are among the more knowledgeable.
