Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is participating in an investigation regarding rabid puppies that were recently sold at a Toronto flea market.
WDGPH program manager Scott Hutchison said Monday there is no truth to rumours one of the affected dogs made its way into Wellington County or was purchased by a county resident.
But as of Tuesday, public health officials in Toronto were still trying to locate at least four puppies – and possibly more than eight – it suspects may have rabies.
Hutchinson said local health officials are concerned because a lot of people from the area may have visited Dr. Flea’s flea market at Highway 27 and Albion Road in Toronto, where puppies from an infected litter were sold. It is estimated hundreds of people were in contact with the animals.
The puppy that prompted the alarm was an infected eight-week-old border collie bought by a Brampton family of four, who are all now receiving treatment for the disease. That dog died, as has at least one other, but Toronto Public Health is trying to track down four other dogs it confirmed were rabid – two border collie mixes, a Maltese mix, and an unknown breed.
Officials warned that all of the dogs sold at the time from the Pets R Us flea market booth – at least 10 – could also have rabies.
Hutchinson said he could not comment on reports the infected dogs were traced to a farm in Newton, about 15 kilometres southeast of Listowel in Perth County. But health officials in Perth have confirmed those reports. Apparently the mother of the border collie cross pups was a family pet, and not vaccinated against rabies. After delivering the pups, the dog killed a skunk that was likely rabid, and the pups likely got the rabies from licking and nibbling their mother.
Since Jan. 23, Toronto health officials have received hundreds of calls from people fearing they may have come in contact with affected puppies.
Hutchinson said anyone who purchased – or even touched – puppies at the flea market after Jan. 5 should call their local public health department.
Perth Public Health issued a second warning to dog owners last week after an unrelated case of rabies was found. A Jack Russell-Pug mix died on Jan. 24 at a farm in Milverton.
Health officials said rabies cases are an important reminder that people should buy pets from registered kennels or stores, and ensure the animals, as well as their parents, have been vaccinated.
Rabies can be spread from infected animals to people through bites, and can also be spread when saliva from the animal comes into contact with broken skin or the moist tissues of a person’s mouth, nose, or eyes. When left untreated rabies can be fatal in humans.
“By law, all dogs and cats, three-months of age and older, must be immunized against rabies,” Hutchison said.
A veterinarian must administer the shots. All vaccinated pets receive a certificate and a rabies vaccination ID tag. The due date for re-vaccination is on the certificate.
“Vaccinating your pets against rabies protects you, your family, and your community,” Hutchison added.
To protect family and pets from rabies:
– make sure pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations;
– do not let pets run free in the neighbourhood;
– keep pets indoors at night;
– teach children to stay away from wild animals, dogs and cats they do not know, or animals that are acting strangely;
– always ask permission from a pet owner before trying to pet an animal; and
– purchase animals from reputable sources and always ensure that the mother of puppies has been vaccinated.
For more information about the case or rabies and vaccination for pets, visit www.wdghu.org or call 519-846-2715.
