The fox which attacked a young girl on Shabbos (Saturday) was rabid, the Health Department confirmed to TLS moments ago. Daniel E. Regenye, Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) Public Health Coordinator, said, “A four year-old girl was bitten by a rabid fox early Saturday evening in Lakewood while playing in her yard. After the fox was captured, it was sent to the New Jersey Public Health Environmental and Agricultural Laboratory for testing. Results we received this morning show that the fox was positive for rabies.”
He added, “Foxes are normally afraid and shy of people and its behavior, attacking someone without provocation, certainly gave us concern that it was rabid. Rabies prophylaxis was begun immediately which will continue for 14 days.”
“Rabies continually remains on our radar, especially during the warmer months,” added Regenye. “More people are outdoors in the warmer months which offers the opportunity to come in contact with an animal that could possibly have rabies.”
So far, during 2013, a total of fourteen animals have tested positive for rabies within Ocean County; 2 bats, 1 cat, 6 raccoons, and 3 skunks and 2 foxes. Since testing of animals for rabies is generally limited to those which have exposed a resident or domestic pets, we know that actual number of rabid animals in our community is much higher.
Jennifer Crawford, OCHD Supervisor of Communicable Disease, added, “Any strangeacting animal could have rabies. Anyone that finds a wild or homeless animal acting strangely or aggressively should avoid contact with the animal and notify the local animal control officer or local police department, describing the animal and its location. You can find the telephone number of your local animal control officer on the Ocean County Health Department website at www.ochd.org, under RESOURCES or call the Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7515.”
Leslie Terjesen, OCHD Public Information Officer, again reminds the importance of getting your family pets vaccinated against rabies. She said, “Even if your pets do not go outdoors, they could accidently get out the door and come in contact with a rabid animal.” Other tips from the Ocean County Health Department on limiting family and pet exposure to rabies are:
· Animal-proof your house and yard. Make sure all garbage is stored in animalresistant
containers.
· Screen off vents to attics and other areas that could provide shelter for bats.
Pr/rabiesconcern/7/30/2013
· Vaccinate your cat or dog against rabies. Unvaccinated animals can contract rabies
from wild animals and transmit the infection to humans. There are safe and
effective vaccines to protect dogs, cats, horses, cattle and sheep against the disease.
Terjesen offers this advice if you are bitten by an animal:
· Learn as much as you can about the animal. If the animal is with its owner, get the
owner’s name and address. If it is a stray or wild animal, try to remember the
location where you last saw the animal and any identifying features on the animal
for the animal control officer to use in tracking it later.
· Wash your wound immediately with plenty of soap and water.
· Contact your physician, health care provider or hospital emergency department for
wound care and consultation regarding the need for rabies preventative treatment.
· Report the incident to the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext.
7515.
Free rabies vaccinations for your pets are available almost every Wednesday by appointment at the Ocean County Animal Facilities. For information on these or other free rabies vaccination opportunities for your pets, please call the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7515 or visit the OCHD website “Events Calendar” at http://www.ochd.org/. [TLS]
what do you do now?
I’m confused. Are there 2 different stories or was the original story incorrect? The first story said the girl was only scratched while walking with a sibling and the fox was killed. Is this a differnt incident?
Where are now the commenters who complained about shooting the animal?
Scratch is considered an abrasion, Which is an open wound. That’s enough for rabies to transfer.
Refua Shlaima!!!! So sad!!
in what part of the township did this incident occur???
what shelters give free rabies shots?
Now that we know that the fox had rabies, it is even more shocking that the police shot the poor fox.
This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill fox that was viciously attacking defenseless young children. This was in fact a challenged fox, who was in need of great help. It probably suffered emotionally due to its illness, and should have been treated with love and devotion, things that it sorely lacked. It should have been treated at an animal hospital and given the proper medications and love.
(moderated)
I also understand that NJ has these crazy “Stand Your Ground” laws that allow a police officer to shoot a defenseless fox when the fox is “attacking” the police officer. This law needs to be repealed. Clearly, one should not be able to just shoot a fox just because one doesn’t like the color its skin.
This child should be judged by a jury of the fox’s peers, and we need to demand justice for the poor foxes who are helpless in Lakewood with all the building going on.
And lastly, it is time for America to acknowledge that there is an inherent bias against foxes in this country. The fact that (moderated) can just pick on an emotionally challenged fox, follow it, and then just shoot the fox when the fox tries to stand up for itself, is the antithesis of America’s freedoms, and therefore the Republicans must be voted out of office, and Obama should be allowed to take away our guns.
Now if you understand everything I just wrote, you understand the Trayvon Martin supporters – in a nutshell.
Can we hear how this little girl is doing. Most of us are more interested to know how this girl is doing and how serious is her condition, then all these statistics and facts that no one cares too much about….. right now anyway, thanks!
from prior post UPDATED: A 3 year old girl was bitten by a fox Shabbos (Saturday) afternoon, Police confirm to TLS. The toddler was reportedly walking with another sibling on 14th Street at about 6:30 p.m. when she was attacked by the wild animal.
To Yid, just curious? Who is Trayvon Martin, is he running for mayor or something?
@ Yid.
I used to enjoy your postings.
They were on-point and eloquently written.
However, lately they are SO over the top. You turn everything into a something political. Either it’s guns or some other current event issue.
While your heart is very much in the right place. This is not the time or place to give commentary on Travyon Martin shooting.
A Poor family in Lakewood must give rabies shots to a young defenseless girl that was doing nothing wrong. The shots are painful.
Nebach on the child. Nebach on the family.
My prayers are with the family.
To the planning board and comittee I say:
Maybe we can stop building so much and leave some place for the animals. We never heard of bears and foxes on our streets. Maybe this is the wake-up call.
Just my humble opinion.
You may disagree if you so choose.
But kindly argue using facts and logic and not some talking point from some narishe radio show.
Thank you
To Yid
I find you comments really offensive ,the fact that a child was bitten by a rabid fox and now must face being treated for rabies must be very distressing for both the child and parents. Please people be a little more sensitive .
JUSTICE FOR THE ‘FOX’ RALLY TOMORROW IN RED-SQUARE!
an armed FBI-wannabe followed the fox (who was scared of the child) and shot it, its deplorable!!! why didnt the cop get the fox’s side of the story? i hear jabba-the-hutt is ready to get on the stand and testify being on the phone with fox right before the shooting.
PS: next time an animal is attacking, feel free to send in the PETA liberals.
@ Chaim and Lakewood resident
I take your criticism seriously, and apologize for seemingly making light of a serious situation, though by no mean did I mean to do that.
I wonder, though, why it is that you did not find it necessary to criticize those who used this tragedy to promote the animal rights agenda. My comment was, in truth, a response to those comments. The Trayvon Martin angle was an afterthought.
I will also add that sometimes the political truth hits home during a tragedy. When a deranged gunman shoots up a school, the anti-gun lobby uses the tragedy to try to ban guns, and you probably see nothing with that. Yet, if a deranged man would stab a bunch of defenseless people to death, and I would use the tragedy to show that it’s not guns that are the problem but rather mental illness, you would be criticizing me for using a tragedy to promote my pro-gun agenda.
So besides for the fact that sometimes it is important to point these facts out precisely at a time of tragedy, it is also quite telling the hypocrisy of the leftists in using tragedy to promote their agenda, while criticizing the use of tragedy when promoting an opposing agenda.
I wish the child a refua shleima (speedy recovery), and apologize for any perceived insensitivity.
To #11 get out from under your rock or stop living in a bubble. Learn what is going on in the world. there are other places besides LKWD, look around you, listen to the news.
Yid thank you for your comments -you always say smart things. Please keep it up
R U kidding????? Pls stay in Lakewood.