• wildcardology@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I think the officials overreacted, I understand that rabies is a nasty fatal disease. But the euthanasia is completely unnecessary. The officials say it’s to determine that the animals don’t have rabies after peanut bit one of them. If the animals turned out negative for rabies then it means no danger, if positive the only thing they can do is vaccinate the worker, there’s nothing else they can do but wait. Why not just vaccinate the worker and let the animals live?

    Also sheltered animals are in no danger of having rabies unless they are bitten by a rabid animal outside.

    • HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 months ago

      You cant test for rabies without euthanasing the animal.

      “…to rule out rabies, the test must include a full cross-section of tissue from both the brain stem and cerebellum.” - https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/php/laboratories/diagnostic.html

      He had just taken in a raccoon so the squirrel could have gotten it from that, and they don’t know if the owner had been lying about taking it outside.

      This is all the owner’s fault for not taking the squirrel to a proper animal sanctuary.

        • HappyFrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 months ago

          If a animal is tested positive the human have to undergo about 2-4 vaccinations that might need to be repeated and will cost a great amount, or they die. The vaccination has a lot of side effects.

  • LustyArgonian@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    They provoked the bite. You should see the video of how they ransacked his room and house to get the squirrel. It was likely terrifying for anyone, let alone a tiny prey animal. Most people familiar with proper wildlife handling should be able to put a little fat pet squirrel in a cage. That it bit them was their fault.

    Whether it’s justified that both the raccoon and the squirrel were put down - imo, not really, no. Laws allow for it, but it’s very unlikely squirrels have rabies and again the bite was provoked.

    But also, didn’t we all watch Tiger King? Can we stop giving these influencers views who use animals like props for money? It’s disgusting. It’s also gross when it’s a disabled person or a child.