Is Your Dog Ready to Romp and Play at the DFA?

Portage Park DFA

Keeping a dog leashed is extremely important, especially in a dangerous city environment, but who doesn’t love watching their dog running around unencumbered, wild and free? Luckily, we here in Chicago have Dog Friendly Areas (DFAs) in many of our parks and beaches. These are the only areas in the city where it is legal to let your dog off leash. The exercise and socialization these areas allow are very important to your dog’s health and behavior. And watching them play provides us humans with endless entertainment. 

In order to use these designated areas, so called “dog parks”, your dog must be up to date with vaccines for Rabies, DHPP, Lepto and Bordetella. They also must have a negative fecal result and a city license. These requirements help ensure that your dog is only interacting with other dogs who are vaccinated and free of worms. The DFA tag itself is not expensive - it’s only $5 - but without it the city can fine you up to $500! At Portage Park Animal Hospital, we will provide the tag free of charge if all 4 of the vaccines and fecal test are performed on the same visit.

The tag is good from January to December of each year, no matter which month it was purchased. Our nearest Dog Friendly Area is at 4100 Long Avenue, south of Berteau Avenue. More information can be found at http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/facilities/dog-friendly-areas.

Now if we could only convince the city to develop Cat Friendly Areas…

Portage Park DFA

Two People Exposed to Rabies by ‘Indoor' Cat

Written by: Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association

DALTON, GA (WRCB) - Two Whitfield County residents are now undergoing rabies treatments after exposure to a pet cat that the Georgia Public Health Laboratory has now confirmed as positive for rabies.

The 15-year old cat bit its owner and exposed the owner's fiancée to the disease before it died. A test for rabies came back positive October 26, 2012.

The cat was reported to have had rabies vaccinations in the past but was not current with its vaccinations.

Due to the age of the animal and being kept indoors, the expected probability of rabies was considered small. The cat's owner could not remember an incident when the cat may have been exposed to rabies.

Public health officials have gone on a door-to-door campaign in Dalton delivering rabies notices, since the area is well-populated.

Domestic dogs and cats typically become rabid within one to three months from exposure, longer incubation periods have been documented. In some cases, humans have not developed rabies until several years after exposure.

Rabies is usually transmitted by exposure to the saliva of a rabid animal through a bite or scratch. Wild carnivores such as bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bobcats and foxes serve as a reservoir for the disease virus and these wild animals can transmit it to domestic dogs, cats, livestock and people.

Bats are considered to be one of the primary conduits for rabies transmission to humans. Contact with bats should be avoided.

For questions on rabies, contact your local county environmental health office or visit the CDC website. Story courtesy AVMA