Posted on 11/02/2007 9:57:28 AM PDT by george76
MARSHALL: Dogs not vaccinated for disease should be euthanized.
A wolf killed during an attack on sled dogs in the Yukon River village of Marshall last week has tested positive for rabies, and state officials Wednesday night said unvaccinated dogs in the village should be euthanized.
The wolf was part of a pack that killed a half-dozen dogs the night of Oct. 24 before villagers chased them out, killing the one wolf and wounding others. Tests returned late Wednesday showed that animal had rabies, and the state's wildlife veterinarian said it's possible other wolves in the pack also have the disease. Dogs could have been infected as well.
Dogs that had not been vaccinated run a high risk of developing the disease in the next few weeks, the health agency said, and can expose other animals and people.
The state "strongly recommends that unvaccinated dogs be euthanized to prevent the risk of spreading the rabies virus to people or other animals,"
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
In an unrelated incident, a pack of wolves killed and ate a dog in North Pole early Wednesday.
“There’s a real possibility of a rabies outbreak,” said Nick Andrew Jr., the tribal administrator for the Ohogamiut Traditional Council.
“There are still wolves near the village. Our concern is the unknown: How many wolves are still in the pack and how many are rabid?”
“But if other wolves in the pack were rabid, they could have been in the shedding stage,” she said. “The length of time between exposure and when they actually get the disease varies. It depends on where they were bitten and how much they got.”
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9424125p-9336407c.html
Andrew said one man has 11 dogs that were bloodied during the wolves’ attack, and the owner was not sure if they were immunized. Now all will likely have to be killed, a move Andrew called a significant inconvenience for a man who uses the dogs for subsistence and recreation.
Too bad the dogs weren’t immunized. Rabies isn’t very prevelant in the northern bush, but there’s enough of it that all working dogs should be immunized. Even a small animal will attack, if it’s rabid — dogs that spend a lot of time in the bush should be protected. With 11 dogs, it might have been too expensive. Many (most?) people with large teams give their dogs their shots themselves — it’s a lot cheaper than going to the vet.
Carolyn
Every fox in north Alaska has rabies.
’ wonder why they don’t just automatically give their animals rabies shots, as we do our pets?
Carolyn’
Penny wise, pound foolish comes to mind. And I feel very bad for the dogs that were not given the protection of a vaccination and will now have to be destroyed.
STupid human.
They may not have the extra cash.
Nice that the feds also released lots of Canadian wolves on us...
/s
Wow — that’s amazing. There were occasional incidents of rabies in the Yukon, while I lived there (over 25 years; but nothing like that. I always thought that the low game density kept the disease from spreading too far and wide (although that doesn’t seem to have worked in N. Alaska). Also, people didn’t hesitate to shoot any wolves, coyotes, linx, etc. that got too close to settlements.
A rabid fox is just as likely to attack as a rabid wolf — all dogs really should be immunized. What’s being done about the rabid foxes?
Carolyn
From the Wiki
As of the census of 2000, there were 349 people, 91 households, and 73 families residing in the city. The population density was 28.5/km² (73.9/mi²). There were 104 housing units at an average density of 8.5/km² (22.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 2.01% White, 95.99% Native American, and 2.01% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
It is, arguably, in the middle of nowhere.... The dogs affected are not pets, they are working animals - you know, sled dogs.
You are right about 'stupid humans' - L48 *know nothings* have fought Alaskan wolf population control programs for years - because they don't have to live with the results of lack of wolf population control.
(/rant)
I was worried about my little dog out there on the run this morning when I heard that news. The guy at APRN said the dog which was killed was 15 years old, but, on the other hand, my dog’s on the chain. It would break my son’s heart if puppers turned into wolf chow.
Last that I heard, the super cubs were banned for wolf hunting.
Is that still accurate ?
Apparently the harvest was not good either.
Michael Scott could put together a “run for the cure”.
Legal rabies vaccines must be administered by a veterinarian in most states. The vaccine must be handled correctly and administered correctly for it to be immunogenic. The legal ramifications of the vaccination status is also in question if an owner is vaccinating their own animals...many times there are no credible records of the vaccination...especially if the dog bites a child...(owners that vaccinate their own animals against rabies will be responsible for the outcome of the children that have to undergo the rabies vaccination regimen after a bite) The vaccine administered to species to which it was not developed can revert to the wild strain and create rabies in those animals. The modified live version of the vaccine can cause problems in raccoons and the wild canines. If one cannot afford to vaccinate their animals against rabies, then the person can’t afford to have the animals...the cost of feed alone is mind boggling and the veterinary cost is less that 5-10% of the animal’s cost over the lifetime of the animal.
Carolyn
Not at all. It's still a fox and shy. Whenever they kill a fox and send the head to Anchorage the report always comes back positive--rabies.
We live 110 miles down river from dawson, in eagle. Right Whale is telling the truth, this time; (just kiddin). Rabies very prevalent around here. My neighbor had a dog that contacted rabies. He had to cut off its head, ALL OF IT and send it in for exam.
We kept dog team for like 14 years and I gave all but rabies shots, and local woman did that for free (need state license for rabies).
In most of the villages, only the smart, strong, and best dogs are allowed to live. Indians very functional people you know. They don’t feed dogs as they are convinced it makes more aggressive dogs to run bear outta village. Trouble is dogs eat each other, and tear up kids now and then; none ever get shots. But here’s the best one: We taught at a village once and it seemed every 6 months new puppies all over the place. Then at 3-4 months they’d shoot all the puppies and new litter would be born soon after. I once said, why not just spay the females and Indians told me why would they want to do that? They said the puppies purpose on this earth was to give kids something to play with and that’s it. Left me scratching my head???? but I ain’t even saying they are wrong. I don’t judge other cultures especially being the only white boy in the village, ha. Imagine humane society people tryin to tell Indians this or that; they’d get fed to the bear.
It’s still quite common to hear about white people eatin dog meat up and down the river, no joke; Lewis & Clark style. You can’t be just giving extra dogs to anyone around these parts. People get mad when they figure out that someone ate their Fido.
“L48 *know nothings* have fought Alaskan wolf population control programs for years - because they don’t have to live with the results of lack of wolf population control.”
Rant away, my FRiend. We’re starting to have some serious coyote problems here in southern Wisconsin. And with the rate that the weather is changing due to us coming out of ‘The Little Ice Age’ (it’s NOT “man-made” Global Warming, it is what it is; a WEATHER CYCLE that we all just happen to be living through!) I can see wolves moving further and further south in Wisconsin in years to come. However, I find some consolation in the fact that the ugly, stupid, useless Possum will, in turn, move further NORTH, LOL!
Vaccinate your dogs, especially if they’re working dogs and are your bread and butter. Duh!
I’m down to one Basset Hound for now, but I see two new Lab pups on my horizon. And they WILL be vaccinated and they WILL have a good life. :)
We have a pack of coyotes running around the North end of ANchorage, out by the air base. So far, all they have eaten is some pet food and a couple of small dogs.
Eagle River (a burb) has an active pack of wolves.
You may keep all of your Possums to your own selves.... : )
Interesting story about village life.
When you had your team, did you ever run in the Percy DeWolfe?
People used to say that dog teams were better than snowmobiles; because you can’t eat a snowmobile if you’re stranded in the bush.
Never run the percy, thought about it. My one buddy runs percy every year and quest about every 4th year. I just did the 3 day a week thing, would run them 45 miles downriver, then back after rest.
Dog team is only way to experience Alaska. I ripped ACL off bone on glaciation with dog team, knees started going after that. Once 30-50 below, after 2 weeks runnin dogs, I ended up on crutches, had to give it up. We fed fish but also I’d buy a ton of national, 1400 every year, got spendy to keep dogteam.
I shot at wolf a few months back on river, but he was bee lining to brush and too far off. We got a few caribou today, got down Jack Wade at 10:30 and had them loaded and on way home by lunch, Kinda hunting I prefer. All kinds wolf tracks, but most wolves tend to follow the caribou migration anyway. I see tracks but never get good shots at old wolf.
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