Two of the three people who were bitten by a rabid dog at a British kennels spoke yesterday about their agonising wait to see if they have the deadly disease.
The mongrel, which had been rescued from Sri Lanka, nipped kennel worker Matthew Brett and charity boss Kim Cooling just a day before it died of the terrifying illness.
Kennel manager Sarah Page was also bitten.
Veterinary experts are now investigating after the puppy, named Milly, died on Friday following a seizure.
They have already destroyed four other dogs at Chingford Mount Kennels in Chingford, Essex.
All the animals were among a batch of 11 brought in to the country by Mrs Cooling's charity Animal SOS.
Yesterday Matthew, 20, of Chingford, said: "I was feeding the pup beef and rice when it nipped me.
"I had put the beef and rice in the bowl and was putting it down on the floor when she sunk her little sharp teeth into my right hand, giving me a nip.
"When you're dealing with puppies you get nipped all the time because they can be very playful.
"Consequently, I didn't think anything more of it until I heard that she had died the following day and they had discovered she had rabies.
"I am trying to stay calm and am now having a course of vaccinations. I won't know for at least two days whether I have the disease because that's how long the blood tests take to come back.
"But obviously I am at risk because I have been in contact with the dog's saliva, although I feel fine at the moment."
1 comment:
The reporting on this case is inaccurate and libellous.The charity did not import any of the dogs into the UK and has never done so. The charity was founded last year to seek long-term solutions to the plight of animals IN Sri Lanka, particularly the suffering street animals. The pups in question were sponsored by individuals from their own pockets and not the charity. All the dogs were vaccinated against rabies, examined by numerous vets in Sri Lanka, blood tested, and issued with health certificates from the government vet to state they were fit for travel. It is not possible to obtain a health certificate to export an animal from Sri Lanka without a rabies vaccination record. All the pups in question were found orphaned in the road or on rubbish tips where they are dumped and left at the mercy of crows who peck at their eyes. Sadly this is a familiar sight in Sri Lanka. The individuals who wanted to give these playful pups a chance of a life, did so in good faith. Sadly one of them, Milly, was already harbouring rabies. Milly was in fact the fittest pup brought to the UK and was playing happily until she became ill 48 hours before her death. No-one suspected she had rabies until tests on her brain revealed the virus. All animals who die in quarantine are decapitated and their brains tested for the disease. Sadly, some of the other pups were mixed with Milly at the kennels when they should have been kennelled separately as requested by their sponsors. This sealed their fate as they were destroyed by DEFRA as a precautionary measure because they were in direct contact with Milly. They had 6 months quarantine ahead of them and could have been monitored. This is the purpose of quarantine and the reason why it exists. The pups had been kept separately in Sri Lanka and had not been in direct contact with Milly until her arrival in quarantine. It was a tragic outcome for these puppies because all of them had such a tremendous will to live and had endured great suffering in Sri Lanka. Animal suffering and abuse is endemic in Sri Lanka. There is no RSPCA and few safe havens. There are suffering and dying animals wherever you go-thousands of orphaned pups and kittens on the streets, starving, dehydrated, diseased and injured. The charity was founded and registered last year and is presently negotiating a plot of land in Sri Lanka as a base to work from. There are few facilites for the strays in Sri Lanka. If you pick up the pups from the road, there is nowhere to take them to. You either leave them to suffer and die or you put them to sleep. That is the harsh reality. The solution is a co-ordinated sterilisation, rabies vaccination and animal welfare education programme-the key aims of the charity. The benefits to animals and human health are huge. The charity is Anglo-Sri Lankan and has the support of the Sri Lankan President. The wife of the Health Minister is an Associate member. The charity will work with the Sri Lankan government to bring about effective animal welfare legislation. The charity also plans to build a well equipped veterinary clinic specifically for the strays, offering the best facilities on the island, and a refuge for some disabled and vulnerable animals and those requiring rehabilition post surgery/treatment. Funds are still required for the buildings works and equipment for the clinic, but the charity hopes to be up and operating by the end of this year. Until then the dedicated team of volunteers involved in the charity spend their holidays from full time employment travelling to Sri Lanka, on self funded trips, often working 16 hours a day in sweltering heat, doing the best they can for the street animals. The charity also assists many poor families and their pets including the Cat Lady of Sri Lanka and her 40 cats-a destitute lady living in a tin shack by a polluted stream. A lady shunned by all, but her animals. The charity will also be providing, through the veterinary clinic, blood testing facilities for tropical diseases (blood parasites)-these are rife in Sri Lanka-and kill thousands of strays animals and pets alike. The Charity-ANIMAL SOS SRI LANKA, offers hope to the suffering animals of Sri Lanka. Please support their endeavours to make a difference. visit http://www.animalsos-sl.com/
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