Posted on 07/11/2012 8:38:28 AM PDT by nickcarraway
How far would you go to protect your family's pet? One teenager's encounter with a rabid fox showed just what she would do to defend the dog she loves so much.
"It just looked almost like a pet, like a dog," recalls Kathie Fisher. "Kinda stood there and sniffed the air with its head."
Kathie Fisher recalls her experience about a week ago. She was getting groceries out of her car and turned around to find a wild fox.
"He didn't seem mean or aggressive, it wasn't foaming out the mouth," Fisher said.
Nobody thought anything of it. Then the fox came back the next day and came after Vinny - her daughter Morgan's dog.
"I heard him barking, and I seen the fox grab him and take him out around by the neck, so I panicked and ran outside," Morgan said.
The 16-year-old says from there, she went into attack mode. She says she grabbed the fox up and started choking it. Then she tried to knock the fox out by slamming it into a pole.
Seeing that the fox wasn't giving up, she ran into her kitchen and grabbed a knife.
"I moved my hand and I stabbed him twice," Morgan said. "I thought he was dead so I started getting up and he jumped up and he bit me and scratched me."
It took sheriff's deputies to shoot the fox down, after it attempted to attack them as well. On Monday you could still see three bullet holes in the ground.
The fox was tested and discovered to have rabies, prompting the Department of Health to issue a rabies alert. Morgan and Vinny are currently being treated with rabies shots for the next few weeks.
While most health officials would advise against Morgan's actions, she says it was a no-brainer.
"I didn't want to lose him, I just got him," Morgan said. "I don't care what would have happened to me, as long as he was safe."
That rabies alert is still in effect in Gulf County. Health officials are urging you to stay away from wild animals.
THe sheriff's department tested it after it was dead. She didn't know; she just knew it was attacking her dog and then her.
Wewahitchka, FL — Gulf County
It’s in the story at the link.
Deja vu ping.
I’d fight for any of my pets...but I have at least a BB gun (and stronger ones).
Good for her.
I specifically didn’t ping you here because I didn’t want to dredge anything up.
Didn’t work.
I went to the link and all I saw was Gulf County and that doesn’t tell me much.
If you clicked at the top, the Florida address comes up.
Kudos!
It is damned refreshing that someone on FR would admit that they are human.
It happens so rarely that it is worth commenting on.
I clicked all over and it did not come up for me. That is just one of my pet peeves.
Thank you, Eaker.
When I am wrong, I am wrong. Period. There is no hiding it. I take full responsibility for my mistakes.
The side effects of the shots seem to have subsided mostly and only the emotional baggage remains so it’s getting tolerable, I reckon.
Just a tidbit some may not know. The fatality rate for rabies infection is 100% in humans, if you don’t get treatment.
If you need help reading, this comment from the post may help you to understand.
“The fox was tested and discovered to have rabies, prompting the Department of Health to issue a rabies alert. Morgan and Vinny are currently being treated with rabies shots for the next few weeks.”
DallasDeb;BerryDingle;ZX12R;nickcarraway;
afraidfortherepublic
Here in Panama we just don’t have a big problem with rabies. It is mostly talk. I wouldn’t recognize rabies if an animal with rabies bit me. Hence, my ignorance shows in this area.
I would be concern if a vampire bat bit me as I slept because a few carry rabies, but that is beyond rare.
Thank you for your replies.
P.S.
Next time I see my Dr. Vet, I will ask him about this. I am now curious.
Thank you for your input.
There’s a young woman to be admired. Wouldn’t you like her to be at your back in a firefight?
And they say there are no more heroes. Ha! Good for him.
What is it called? It’s beautiful!
“...most health officials would advise against Morgan’s actions....”
Always we must have the condescending crapola.
Only “professionals” like SPCA, police and firemen are allowed to do anything. Never mind you might be dead by the time they even get there.
They want to perpetuate the dependent coward character. Actually they’ve succeeded a great deal. Don’t dare stand up for yourself (or anyone else).
Undoubtedly, the people on United93 would’ve been told to stand down and not attempt anything, if it weren’t for such poor communication links.
Please read my post #34. You are included in my comments too; although, I did not see your comments until now.
Thank you for your post.
“attacking a neighbor’s shiatsu”
They had a massage machine in the yard?
(I do think you meant Shih Tzu! :D)
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