Every year.

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The American Humane Society estimates that more than 15,000,000 healthy, friendly dogs and cats will be euthanized this year simply because they are "unwanted." The only way to reduce the number of euthanizations is to reduce the number being born.

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A significant number of "pure breed" animals are euthanized in shelters every year. Providing intact animals to back yard breeders would only increase this number.

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Rabies is a virus that is in the saliva of an infected animal that works its way from the injury through the muscles to the nerves. Once it gets into the nerve, it travels to the spine and brain, finally causing death. It is a slow process, taking up to six months or longer.

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Some animals tend to lick their feet and most will lay their heads on their legs/feet while relaxing. Even saliva that drips from the mouth of an animal could contaminate a foot.

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Wash immediately with soap and water. Contact Animal Control, or the Police Department and try to keep track of the animal until someone arrives. Seek medical attention if necessary.

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The quarantine is a period of ten (10) days from the date of incident. Even though the incubation period can be months, the virus is only found in the saliva for less than ten days before the animal dies.

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The high-risk wild animals are bats, skunks, raccoons, fox and coyote. The wild animals that are least likely to have rabies are opossums, squirrels, moles, armadillos, and rabbits. If you see a high risk animal in your area, especially during day light hours, avoid any contact with the animal and call Animal Control.

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Change of diet. Rabies acts like a stomach virus and causes cramping and pain. Rabid animal will avoid food and water because it hurts to put anything in their stomachs.

Personality change. Most animals in pain will turn more aggressive; however, some will become more personable, like a child wanting its mother.

Paralysis. Since rabies travels up the spine, it can cause problems around the hips of the animal. When this happens, the animal will stagger and fall.

Foaming at the mouth. The virus does not foam when it contacts air. The foaming is caused by the spasm of muscles in the jaw, causing the animal to constantly chew. The foam is simply the saliva being worked into a froth by the chewing motion. The foaming is also one of the last signs of rabies that may appear before the animal dies. There are many things that an animal can pick up with its mouth that will make it foam. If the jaw is not constantly chewing involuntarily, it is probably not an indication of rabies.

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They are probably not abandoned kittens. Most likely, the mother just left them in what she thought was a safer place while she went looking for food. Contact Animal Control to prevent the kittens from growing into feral cats.

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No. The animals in the shelter are either surrendered animals by their owners residing within the City of Richland Hills or strays that are not claimed.

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