HEALTH - Over 250 Rabies Cases in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources reported a new case of fox strain rabies this week - found in a cow in Perth County.

This brings the total incidence of fox strain to three.

The outbreak of rabies in the province has largely been the raccoon strain rabies.

There were six new raccoon strain cases this week in two raccoons and four skunks, bringing the total to 250 since the first case in December of last year.

It’s believed the infected animal rode into the province on the back of a tractor trailer and the province has been fighting to manage the disease ever since.

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories

The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

The government of Ontario is keeping citizens apprised of reported rabies cases and general rabies information on their website.

HEALTH - Rabies a Continuing Concern in Ontario

Despite great efforts, including the distribution of more than 1,600,000 vaccine baits, Ontario continues to see animals infected with rabies.

The latest reported numbers, from last week, bring the total of raccoon strain rabies to 244 along with two cases of fox strain rabies since the first infected animal was discovered in December 2015.

The raccoon strain cases were found in the following areas:

• Hamilton - 198
• Haldimand - 18
• Niagara - 12
• Brant - 11
• Halton - 5

The majority of ill animals were raccoons (170), followed by 72 skunks, one fox and one cat.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have tested more than 4,300 animals for the disease and are continuing their efforts to control the outbreak.

WELFARE - Ontario Conference Offers Education and Networking

The Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO) Annual Conference is just around the corner, and animal shelter workers are encouraged to register - even if they aren’t from the province.

“Our conference offers educational seminars and offers attendees the valuable opportunity to network with other industry leaders during the conference, and keep those connections going afterward,” Mary Lou Leiher, Chair of AASAO, told InfoStream.

Organizers hope to have 100 or more in attendance including shelter staff from humane societies and municipal animal care and control.

Seminar topics this year include:

• Raccoon rabies control in Ontario
• Cat healthy program
• Care and handling of reptiles
• Care and handling of exotic birds
• Neonatal care
• Compassion fatigue in the animal control and shelter environments.

The AASAO was formed to assist those who work in the animal sheltering industry in Ontario to grow as professionals and to network with others and focus on best practices.

Ontario is currently the only province with an Animal Shelter Administrators Association and they are happy to open their conference to anyone in Canada - building networks and sharing best practices across the country can only benefit animals.

The AASAO conference takes place October 6th and 7th at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre and attendees should register before September 22. Full conference and single day options are available, and the hotel has special accommodation rates for attendees.

For more information and to register, visit the AASAO website.

WELFARE - Where are all the Cats?

An encouraging trend for cat lovers indicates that feline populations in shelters have been on the general decline in recent years.

While the trend is apparent in areas in both Canada and the U.S., shelters continue to report there is far more work to be done and some areas continue to face burgeoning cat populations – including the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) in Calgary, Alberta.

“The economy is hitting everybody hard, but in Alberta we are right in that oil and gas bubble where there have been massive layoffs and many people forced to downsize or move (out of province) to find work,” explained Sage Pullen McIntosh, spokesperson for the CHS.

The shelter ran an adoption campaign at the end of June, waiving fees for cats older than seven months to help free up space in their overcrowded cat corridors.

While Pullen McIntosh said that their intake was up 185 cats by June 28 of 2016, compared to intake at the same time in 2015, these numbers were not impacted by the early June Ft. MacMurray wildfire dubbed as ‘The Beast’; the shelter did provide emergency boarding for animals from the northern community hard hit by the raging fire, but has since reunited all animals but one cat with their owners.

From Jan. 1-June 28, 2016, the CHS has admitted 2,770 animals, of which 1690 were cats.

Pullen-McIntosh said the information they have gathered from people who surrender their pets (although stray and abandoned cat intake numbers have also risen) indicate job loss, moving and other effects of a downturn in the economy over the last year or so have been the biggest reasons for giving up their pet.

In other areas, however, the combination of improved adoption programs, public education and prevention campaigns and responsible pet ownership seem to be bringing overall shelter cat numbers down and adoptions up.

“We have definitely seen a steady decrease of cat populations in our shelters over the last few years… But overall reduction really isn’t that drastic. We still have much work to do,” said Mary Lou Leiher, who works as a program manager for Toronto Animal Services and is also the president of the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO).

The AASAO is a unique organization that is an ‘affiliation of professionals committed to excellence in the management and operation of animal care, control and welfare organizations’.

Leiher credits the general reduction from AASAO member shelters, including the City of Toronto and the Ottawa Humane Society, to a number of factors, such as ongoing public education campaigns; successful prevention programs such as the City of Toronto’s CHIP truck for microchipping, licensing and rabies and the SNYP truck for mobile spaying/neutering programs; improved adoption programs through shelters; and the trendiness of choosing to adopt rather than buy from a breeder.

“Shelters have also changed their adoption practices. We understand it’s better to educate people rather than turn them down…people will just go somewhere else if you won’t work with them and then you’ve lost that connection,” explained Leiher.

“If you don’t like the answer, change the conversation.”

These stats of increased adoptions and lowered intake rates of shelter cats are further evidenced by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

According to Dr. Emily Weiss, this notion of ‘changing the conversation’ and working with families and individuals looking to adopt pets, rather than turning away people who may otherwise look to less favourable solutions to obtain a pet (puppy mills) has been key to the overall decrease in areas such as New England.

Weiss made note of the American Pet Product Association’s (APPA) pet owners survey where the data shows some significant changes in where people obtain their cats today compared to ten years ago.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

HEALTH - 6 Months in and Ontario Still Seeing Rabies Cases

Since the first rabies case was discovered in December 2015, 3,200 animals have been tested for the disease and over 800,000 oral vaccines have been distributed in Southern Ontario.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been aggressively fighting the outbreak and reports 134 cases of raccoon strain rabies and two fox strain to June 30th.

Of the raccoon strain cases, 122 have been discovered in Hamilton, five in Haldimand, four in Niagara and three in Brant.

The disease has infected 89 raccoons and 45 skunks.

Pet owners are encouraged to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations - which is required by law in the province.

In Canada the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats.

Rabid animals may be extremely excited, attack objects or other animals, froth at the mouth, or bite at anything. 

HEALTH - Ontario Rabies Numbers Continue to Grow

Ontario announced its first raccoon strain rabies cases in December 2015 and since then the number continues to grow.

Prior to this outbreak, the province hadn’t seen this type of rabies since 2005.

The latest update from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry states there have been a total of 121 cases of raccoon strain rabies and 2 cases of fox strain rabies cases since December 2015.

In the past week they reported five new cases - four from Hamilton (two raccoons and two skunks) and one case from Brantford in a raccoon.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

Pets can be protected from the virus through vaccination - which is legally required in Ontario.

Pet owners can also protect their animals by maintaining control of them to reduce their exposure to wildlife. It’s also important to report any stray or ill animals to animal control.

Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year.

In 2006 a group of researchers and professionals formed the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) whose mission is to prevent human deaths from rabies and relieve the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially dogs.

World Rabies Day was founded by GARC and has grown every year, with hundreds of thousands of people participating in events on or around September 28th.

GARC uses a holistic model for rabies prevention that has proven to work and includes people, education, vaccination, access to treatment and monitoring results.

Their projects in Africa, the Philippines, India and elsewhere take them closer to their vision of a world free of human rabies.

HEALTH - Hamilton Low Cost Rabies Clinic Hosted by PetValu

Dr. Jeff Rabinovich, from the Bridletown Warden Animal Hospital, and his partners have successfully completed ten low cost rabies vaccine and microchip clinics in Ontario.

But due to the high incidence of rabies in the Hamilton area, Rabinovich has added an additional clinic this Sunday.

The initial clinics, done in partnership with PJ’s Pets, Pet Culture and HomeSafeTM, resulted in 929 rabies vaccinations and 360 microchip implants. All microchip implants included a HomeSafeTM package, providing the owner with lifetime protection for their animals.

The numbers are lower than last year, primarily due to the closing of PJ’s Pet Stores - the Hamilton and Brantford stores were unavailable this year.

Undaunted, Rabinovich found another partner to serve these areas.

“The Hamilton area is a known hot-spot for rabies in Ontario, and I felt I needed to try to help with low cost protection,” said Rabinovich. “Fortunately PetValu offered to host a clinic at their 801 Mohawk Rd West store, so we will be there this Sunday 1pm to 4pm rain or shine!”

The cost is $25 per rabies vaccine, $25 per microchip/HomeSafe™ registration combo, or $50 for both including HST (cash only).

There will be 200 vaccinations available, on a first-come, first-served basis.

PetValu

801 Mohawk Rd. West

Hamilton

1 - 4pm

Sunday, June 5th

Individuals attending the clinics have expressed their gratitude for the service and concern about where future clinics may be held.

With no definitive answer regarding new locations, Rabinovich promises to work hard at maintaining this service as it is the only way some owners can afford rabies protection.

Free Rabies Vaccines for Hamilton Families in Need

Associate Veterinary Clinics (AVC) and St. Matthew’s House are offering a free rabies vaccination clinic for pets of St. Matthew’s House clients and of families in need in the Hamilton area on Wednesday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s House - 414 Barton Street E., Hamilton.

The clinic has been prompted by the outbreak of rabies in Ontario with the latest numbers from the Ontario government listing 108 cases of raccoon strain and 2 cases of fox strain rabies since December 2015.

Most all of the raccoon strain rabies have been found in the Hamilton area.

“The rabies outbreak in the Hamilton area continues to be a concern, and we want to do everything we can to help reduce the risk to pets and people while keeping the whole family safe.” says Jen Danyliw, Senior Regional Operations Director, Ontario, for Associate Veterinary Clinics. “This free rabies vaccination clinic is being supported by our veterinary hospitals in the area in collaboration with St. Matthews’s House. We will also have support on site from other human and veterinary health agencies and our industry partners.”

“Vaccinating your pet against rabies is an important part of rabies prevention for both pets and the people they live and interact with. It is especially important for all dogs and cats living in the Hamilton area, even those that are strictly indoor pets, to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies considering the recent outbreak of rabies virus in the area”, adds Kristina Cooper, RVT, Provincial Manager, OAVT Public Health Rabies Response Program.

Public health legislation requires that all pet owners in the province vaccinate their animals against rabies.

This free program will make vaccines more accessible to people in need - in this instance the clients of St. Matthew’s House and their families.

First Case of Rabies Found in Brantford, Ontario

Until last week, the majority of raccoon rabies cases in Ontario were concentrated in the Hamilton area.

That changed with the first reported case found in a raccoon from Brant County.

Along with the raccoon in Brantford, seven other new cases were reported by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - five skunks and a raccoon from Hamilton and a raccoon from Haldimand County.

The total number of raccoon strain rabies is now 108, plus the two fox strain rabies cases since December 2015.

Pet owners interested in the low cost rabies vaccination and microchip/HomeSafe clinics, offered by Dr. Jeff Rabinovich from the Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital, PJ’s Pets, PetCulture and HomeSafe™, have one more opportunity.

There is a clinic on Saturday, May 28th from noon until 4pm at PJ’s Pets in Brockville.

Stay up-to-date on the rabies situation in Ontario by visiting the government website.

Over 100 Rabies Cases in Ontario

The latest update from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reports 100 cases of raccoon strain rabies and two of fox strain rabies in the province since December 2015.

The most recent cases - nine reported last week - were all in the Hamilton area and all the raccoon strain. They were discovered in five raccoons and four skunks.

Pet owners are strongly encouraged to ensure their pets’ rabies vaccinations are up-to-date. In fact, rabies vaccines are required by law in Ontario.

Low cost rabies vaccination and microchip clinics, put on by Dr. Jeff Rabinovich from the Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital, PJ’s Pets, PetCulture and HomeSafe™, continue this weekend in Peterborough, Milton and Burlington making it more affordable for pet owners to comply.

In the meantime, the Ontario government continues with its rabies control operations to contain the spread of the disease.

Strong Start for Ontario Rabies Clinics

In Ontario 331 dogs and 83 cats are now safe from rabies - at a very affordable price - thanks to three low cost rabies clinics last weekend.

As well, 152 pets have lifetime protection through the HomeSafe™ Return to Owner (RTO) service.

Dr. Jeff Rabinovich

The team of Dr. Jeff Rabinovich from the Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital, PJ’s Pets, PetCulture and HomeSafe™ will continue to provide low cost rabies vaccines, microchips and subscriptions this weekend.

Clinics will be held at PJ’s Pets in Brampton May 7th from noon until 4pm, at Peculture in Waterloo May 8th from 10am until 1pm, and Petculture in Kitchener from 2pm until 5pm. See complete schedule here.

The cost is $25 per rabies vaccine, $25 per microchip/HomeSafe™ registration combo, or $50 for both including HST (cash only).

With the upcoming closure of a large number of PJ’s Pet and Petculture stores, pet owners expressed their hope there will be new locations for the clinics in the future.

“One lady in for a microchip plus HomeSafe™ subscription, was in tears thanking us because this was the only way she would be able to afford this, and she really wanted the peace of mind afforded by chipping and registration,” said Rabinovich.

HomeSafe™ is North America’s only Automated National Online Registry and Lifetime Return to Owner (RTO) service for pets. Pet owners use any online device to maintain current information about their pet without charge during a lifetime of human/animal experiences.

Ontario Low Cost Rabies Clinics: Timely with rabies outbreak

Dr. Jeff Rabinovich from the Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital, PJ’s Pets, PetCulture and HomeSafe™ are coming together to once again offer low cost rabies and microchip clinics in Ontario.

Dr. Rabinovich is committed to the health of animals in the community - not just their physical health by providing affordable vaccinations, but also their well-being if they ever become lost.

Five years ago, he was asked to hold rabies clinics at two PJ’s Pets Centres. “We put together a plan that would account for staffing, public awareness, and low cost, while providing the public with affordable Rabies immunization, microchip implantation, and Petlynx (HomeSafe™) registrations,” Rabinovich told InfoStream.

Over the years, the number of clinics expanded. Last year 1,300 animals were vaccinated and 600 animals were implanted with microchips, and provided with lifetime subscriptions to the HomeSafe™ Return to Owner (RTO) service.

Clinics begin on April 30th this year.

PJ’s Pets and PetCulture are providing locations, logistics and promotion, Bridletown Warden Animal Hospital is providing veterinary services, PetLynx is supplying HomeSafe™ lifetime subscriptions and CDMV is providing competitive pricing for microchips. A collaboration that enriches the pet owner and public health experience.

The cost for these services is $25 per rabies vaccine, $25 per microchip/HomeSafe™ registration combo, or $50 for both including HST (cash only).

“In Southern Ontario that there has been an increased incidence in raccoon rabies. This may very well swell the numbers of people that seek vaccinations for their pets,” said Rabinovich.

Ninety-two rabies cases have been discovered - 90 of the raccoon rabies strain which hasn’t been seen in Ontario since 2005.

Since the beginning of April, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has distributed over 450,000 ONRAB rabies vaccine baits in the rabies control zones by airplane, helicopter and ground staff to combat the outbreak.

HomeSafe™ is North America’s only Automated National Online Registry and Lifetime Return to Owner (RTO) service for pets. Pet owners use any online device to maintain current information about their pet without charge during a lifetime of human/animal experiences.

Ontario Rabies Cases Increase to 86

The latest bulletin from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry puts the number of animals infected with rabies at 86.

This includes 60 raccoons and 24 skunks infected with raccoon strain rabies and two cases of Arctic Fox strain rabies.

Six of the cases identified over the past week were in the Hamilton area and one in Niagara.

Ontario continues its rabies control operations which began April 1st and involves dropping bait that contains rabies vaccine that animals ingest.

Find up-to-date rabies information on the Ontario government website.

Ontario Rabies Control Operations Begin April 1st

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced the plan for their annual rabies control operations - to reach wild raccoons, skunks and foxes and prevent further spread of raccoon and fox strain rabies in the province.

Ontario had been free of raccoon strain rabies for over ten years and fox strain for two, but since December 2015 seventy-six raccoon rabies cases have been reported.

Rabies control activities for the 2016 spring season include:

• Aerial baiting in a small area of Perth County – projected to start April 1
• Aerial baiting in the Golden Horseshoe area – projected to start April 1 and be completed by the end of April
• Hand baiting of urban areas – projected to start April 4 and continue throughout the spring and early summer
• Control measures at the point of infection – only to take place in the event of a raccoon or ‘Ontario fox strain’ rabies incident.

Summer management activities include:

• Aerial baiting in a small area in eastern Ontario along the St. Lawrence River and ground baiting (within urban areas if required) – scheduled for mid-August
• Aerial baiting within a 50 km radius of confirmed raccoon strain rabies cases - scheduled for mid-August
• Ground and aerial urban and rural baiting in Niagara area – scheduled for late August
• Aerial baiting within a 50 km radius of confirmed fox strain rabies cases - scheduled for mid-September
• Control measures at the point of infection – only to take place in the event of a raccoon or ‘Ontario fox strain’ rabies incident.

The khaki-green coloured bait being dropped from the aircraft has a label with a toll-free telephone number (1-888-574-6656)  and “Do not eat” warning on the exterior of the bait. A plastic package containing the liquid rabies vaccine is embedded in the centre. If found, the bait should not be touched, but left for raccoons, skunks and foxes to consume.

For more information you are encouraged to visit the Rabies in Ontario website or contact the rabies hotline at 1-888-574-6656.

Ontario Rabies Update

This week, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry updated the number of rabies cases in Ontario to 70 since the first case was discovered in December 2015.

This includes 51 raccoons and 19 skunks infected with the raccoon rabies strain.

Rabies (Lyssavirus) is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. It’s transmitted through the saliva when the animal “sheds” the virus. Rabies is not transmitted through the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal, nor is it spread airborne through the open environment. Because it affects the nervous system, most rabid animals behave abnormally.

Historically, bats, foxes and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies in Canada, with coyotes and raccoons added to this list in the United States. It is believed this rabies outbreak in Ontario was caused by a raccoon that rode into Canada on a semi-truck from the US.