Now Hear This ...

I want to tell you about a foolish mistake I made that could have cost one of my beloved pets his life. Consider this my Public Service Announcement! Monday morning Nick found that one of the cats had caught and killed a bat and of course brought it in. Now had it been a mouse or a mole, big deal. But this was a bat. It is unusual for a healthy bat to be some where that a cat can catch it. Of course rabies was the first thing on our minds!

My first call was to the vet to check to be sure all vaccinations were up to date. My heart sank when I heard that one of the cats, the one who hunts the most, was past due on the rabies vaccine. My fault I am supposed to keep up with such thing but not really being worried about rabies I had put it on the back burner.

Next I called animal control. They said our other pets should have boosters but that the unvaccinated one had to be turned over to animal control until the bat could be checked for rabies. If the bat came back positive for rabies our sweet, loving, little pet would have to be put down. I felt sick to my stomach at the thought.

The animal control folks were very nice. They told me I could come visit him any time I like and I did. They stayed with me as I held and tried to comfort my confused kitty. I thought they were just being kind and trying to comfort me but I also realized they were probably making sure I didn’t grab him and run!

Gratefully the good word came on Wednesday! The bat tested negative for rabies!!!! LJ and I went to pick up our baby. He was sooooo happy to be home. He sniffed everything and every one. He ate, just in two days Nick and I both could tell he had lost weight.

Guys we really dodged a bullet. If you have pets check now to make SURE all vaccines are up to date. You never know when your pet could come in contact with wildlife. I would have been devastated if we had been forced to put down this loving pet. Believe me from now on I will always keep all my pet vaccinations up to date!!