and mumps were so common a hundred years ago, they were considered a normal part of childhood. Today, immunizations have controlled them so effectively that many have forgotten they exist and have potential for causing serious illness, even death. In the same way, animal bites and animal-borne diseases were far more common a hundred years ago, and are still relatively common in countries which do not have animal control facilities. Organizations like BARC have been so effective at reducing these hazards, that many of us have forgotten that rabies still exists and still has the power to damage, even extinguish human life.

Animal Bites

Across the nation, animals bite millions of people each year. About 270,000 people go to emergency rooms each year for cat and dog bites. About 9,000 of these people are hospitalized each year for injuries to flesh and bone caused by animal bites. Painful though these injuries may be, the accompanying infections may be even more consequential, and may result in amputation, blood infections or even death.

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine documented the results of germ cultures from 107 dog and cat bites of humans. On average, each bite transmitted five different germs. The study revealed a total of 152 different bacteria including 10 not previously known to infect humans. The complete list took up a full page in small type.

Bites are not usually dangerous unless skin has been broken, but once skin is broken, infections can develop rapidly. The average time in the study for bacteria to culture was 12 hours. Of course the process works in reverse, also. Humans carry germs, which may infect animals.

There are many animal-borne diseases but by far, the most serious is rabies, a viral disease of the central nervous system, fatal to both humans and animals. If caught early, rabies can be treated, but once a person or animal exhibits symptoms, there is no treatment.

The bite or scratch of an infected animal transmits rabies. The bite or scratch doesn't have to be deep. For instance, bats have teeth so fine that a person can be unaware he or she has been bitten or scratched.

Potentially, all warm-blooded mammals can get rabies, however certain animals tend to be exempted by practical issues. Squirrels for instance, live in trees and have such a "nervous" disposition that, as one veterinarian puts it, "an infected animal can't get close enough to bite or scratch them." For this reason, squirrels are seldom tested for rabies.

Skunks, bats, coyotes and foxes, however, can and often do, become infected with rabies and can easily spread it to stray dogs, cats and pets. Besides protecting the pet from rabies, vaccinations are a barrier between rabies in wild animals and humans. Without this barrier it would only be a matter of time before rabies was transmitted from wild animals to pets to humans. This is why state law requires that domestic mammals animals be vaccinated every year.

Only a licensed veterinarian may vaccinate your pet against rabies. Visiting your veterinarian at least once per year is a good way to ensure that your pet stays healthy.

Bite Prevention

Each day, 12,000 Americans suffer dog bites. The majority of them are small children.Here are the tips the United States Post Office teaches its mail carriers to avoid bites:

 · Never assume that a dog won't bite
· Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch prey.
· If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact; try to remain motionless until
  the dog leaves, then back away slowly.
· Don't approach a strange dog, especially one that's tied up or confined.
· Always let a dog see and sniff you before you pet the animal. 

 Responsible Dog Ownership