Confirmed rabies exposure in Toronto spurs search for unidentified owner and dog
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is looking to identify an owner and their dog that were licked and jumped on by a dog with a confirmed rabies case in early January.
The interaction occurred on Jan. 12, the agency says, when a brown, mixed labrador retriever, who has since tested positive for rabies, came in contact with an unidentified owner and their “bulldog-type dog” on Bison Drive and Regatta Crescent, near the intersection of Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West, in Toronto.
A statement issued on Tuesday by TPH says the labrador, who at the time did not appear sick, jumped up on and licked the unidentified owner of the bulldog-type dog.
On Jan. 19, TPH received a confirmation that the labrador has tested positive for rabies.
The agency is looking to speak with the owner of the bulldog “to assess their risk of exposure to rabies and, if needed, support preventative treatment.”
TPH says that all other human and canine contacts have been identified and contacted, with the exception of the bulldog-type dog and its owner, adding that the agency has “engaged in door-knocking and postering in the community, as well as contacted nearby veterinarians and Toronto Animal Services.” Because of this, the agency said the risk of rabies exposure to the general public remains very low.
According to TPH, the bulldog-type dog may have been named “Bulldozer” but says it’s unsure of the dog’s current name.
WHAT IS RABIES?
“Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans,” TPH said.
“If it is left untreated before symptoms appear, rabies will lead to death. The rabies virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually entering through a bite or more rarely a scratch.”
The agency says that rabies can not always be identified without testing, but that transmission and severe illness can be prevented after exposure by immunization. While effective, the vaccine must be administered before symptoms appear, they say.
TPH is encouraging all residents to take the following steps in order to reduce the risk of rabies exposure:
- Ensure that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
- Always supervise your dog. Dogs should not run loose in public spaces in the city, except in off-leash parks.
- Stay away from all wild animals, whether they appear tame, injured or sick. Every animal is capable of unpredictable behaviour.
- Keep pets away from wild animals and do not let pets roam unsupervised.
If anyone has any information on this incident, Toronto Public Health is asking them to contact the agency at 416-338-7600 fby email at publichealth@toronto.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Record-breaking N.B. lottery winner kept winning ticket on dresser for nearly a year
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.
A dog and a bird formed an unlikely friendship. Their separation has infuriated followers
Peggy is a stout and muscular Staffordshire bull terrier, and Molly is a magpie, an Australian bird best known for swooping on humans during breeding season, not for befriending dogs. But in an emotional video posted online, Peggy’s owners announced that the animals had been separated.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.