JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After the Florida Department of Health issued a rabies alert for people living near UNF and the St. Johns Town Center Mall on Thursday, News4JAX started getting calls and emails from members of the stray cat-caring community.
They took issue with one of the safety tips by the Florida Department of Health on what to do to prevent contracting rabies. In the alert, the Department of Health suggested people in the alert area call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhood.
But people said stray animals could also mean cat colonies and neighborhood cats that are being cared for by people who spend their own money to feed, spay, neuter and vaccinate the cats.
Animal advocates said there was no context to that health department’s suggestion.
“Simply stating that all stray cats need to be removed or all community cats need to be removed is just not accurate,” said Rebecca Nelson.
Nelson said the bulletin should have been more specific to include wording that includes removing a stray animal that is showing signs of having rabies.
“Community cats often have caretakers, so to say call animal control to have these cats removed is not accurate and it puts cats at risk who do have their vaccinations, who do have their ears clipped and have been fed and taken care of regularly,” she said.
Nelson fears the current wording of the alert could give people the wrong impression that it’s okay to remove and kill stray cats within the alert area as a type of rabies prevention. Animal investigation expert Jim Crosby is warning folks about taking matters into their own hands.
“This is not a license to go out and take any action other than just be aware and keep your animals safe and under your control,” Crosby said.
The reality here is that animal control will not remove a stray dog or cat simply because they’re roaming the neighborhood. However, they will remove a stray animal that is showing signs of being infected with rabies.
According to the CDC, those signs include seizures, difficulty breathing, disorientation, excessive drooling, aggressive behavior or self-mutilation.
When it comes to aggressive behavior, animal control will ask the caller if the animal appears to be trying to attack people and other animals. If the animal meets the criteria to be picked up on suspicion of rabies, it will be euthanized, and the animal’s head will be removed from the body and sent to a lab.
Nelson said she would like to speak with state lawmakers about ways to protect cat colonies from being generalized as stray animals every time a rabies alert goes out.
The health department did not respond to News4JAX’s call, likely because of the holiday weekend.