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Rabid Wolves Attack Sled Dogs

November 2007 – First published in National Pet Press, a report published in the Anchorage newspaper states “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.”

Although the U.S. has just recently been declared rabies free as regards the dog population, this is a reminder that the disease is still carried by raccoons, skunks, and other wildlife such as wolves!

The wolf pack killed a half-dozen chained sled dogs on Oct. 24.  The people were able to kill one of the wolves and vets fear others in the pack may be rabid.  We are told that rabies is extremely rare in Alaska but now there is fear that unvaccinated dogs could be infected from the attack.

They have to be confined and watched carefully for several weeks.  Some owners may elect to kill them rather than bother but the sled dogs are loved by most owners so it presents a real dilemma.  And it turns out, the people who helped remove the dead animals or assisted in the necropsy run a risk of being infected.  They too will have to be medically observed for signs of rabies.

 
Area dog owners with questions may call the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. Office of Environmental Health at 907-543-6420.

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Update On Rabies Vaccine Fund seems strangely contradictory eh?