OT -Rabies found in Ontario-Not ISD related

Hello Folks

I know that this is not ISD related and I don't know this breeder nor do I know anyone who bought these puppies, but I am posting this on the blog, just in case someone who reads the blog, didn't see this information in the news, and I feel that we need to get the word out about this case. Please if you live in a area that your dogs are exposed to wild animals, please make sure your dogs are up to date on their Rabies, I fully support using the three year vaccine / use of Titers and not over use of Vaccines but please use the core Vaccines to help protect our beloved pets and our family members while we do so.


Date: 25 Jan 2008Source: London Free

Press<http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/01/25/4792958-sun.html>

Massive rabies case traced to local farm- -----------------------

A rabies alarm raised in Toronto has spread across the province with hundreds of possible infections -- traced back to puppies from Perth and Bruce counties.Health officials urge anyone in Ontario who came into contact with the infected puppies or who bought puppies from a Bruce County business after [3 Jan 2008] to contact their local health unit.

The deadly virus came from 3 puppies at a family farm near Newton, about 15 kilometres southeast of Listowel in Perth County, health officials said yesterday [24 Jan 2008].The Perth district health unit is contacting at least 40 people who might have had contact with the puppies or their mother at the farm."We are following up on each one of them," said Dr. Miriam Klassen, Perth's medical officer of health.Perth health officials also are urging any other people -- from friends to service people -- who visited the farm between [29 Nov 2007] and [3 Jan 2008] to contact them.

Untreated, rabies is fatal in humans.It is found in the saliva of animals and can be passed through a bite, cut or scratch.A person could catch the rabies virus simply by playing with the puppies, Klassen said.

The mother of the border collie cross pups was a family pet, but was not vaccinated against rabies, she said.After delivering the pups, she killed a skunk that was likely rabid, Klassen said.

The pups likely got the rabies from licking and nibbling their mother, she said.The mother died, as did some of the pups.The family, unaware of the rabies, sold 3 of the puppies to a dog broker in Chesley, said Drew Ferguson, spokesperson for the Grey Bruce health unit.The broker kept the puppies for 10 days.

Health unit officials have contacted 6 people who had contact with the 3 puppies, Ferguson said.The broker took the puppies to Dr. Flea's, a flea market at Albion Road and Highway 27 in west Toronto.One of the 3 infected puppies was purchased [13 Jan 2008]. The puppy became sick and was taken to the Toronto Humane Society, said investigator Tre Smith.The puppy died [14 Jan 2008] and an autopsy 3 days ago showed it was infected by rabies."We are not exactly sure how many people came in contact with this animal at Dr. Flea's," said Smith. "But we are assuming it could be upwards of hundreds of people who walked by and petted the animal."

That dog was one of at least 10 sold by the Dr. Flea's vendor that day and each of those dogs may have rabies too, said Dr. Rosana Pellizzari, with Toronto Public Health.Toronto Public Health officials issued a warning Wednesday night [23 Jan 2008]."This is very serious," Pellizzari said. "Rabies should be treated as a fatal illness -- no ifs, ands or buts.

"Officials said yesterday they have received nearly 200 calls from the public since 1st issuing the alert, and have since found a number of puppies sold at the flea market.The investigation has not found any human cases of rabies.

The infected 8-week-old puppy that prompted the alarm was bought by [a woman in] Brampton for her son.[The woman], her husband, son and brother-in-law all have to get rabies treatments, typically 6 shots in 28 days.

This case should serve as a warning to people buying pets, health officials said.Buy from a registered kennel or store and make sure the dogs or their parents have been vaccinated, Ferguson said.About the puppies- ----------------- -


The infected puppies came from a farm in Newton in Perth County. They also were handled for 10 days at a puppy broker in Chesley in Bruce County.- -

They were sold at Booth No. 1513 at Dr.Flea's, a flea market in west Toronto. The flea market booth has a sign with the name Pets R Us.

The vendor has also given out business cards with the name Feed Me More Pets and a business location of Chesley.- -

Perth district health unit 519-271-7600, ext. 267- -
Grey Bruce health unit 519-376-9420- -
Toronto Public Health 416-338-7600

[Byline: Randy Richmond and Jack Boland]