How local humane society is preventing rabies cases
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — A new initiative aimed at protecting both residents and animals is being launched in Hopewell after a rabid cat infected at least one person in the city last month.
Earlier this month, 8News reporter Mariah Jallad spoke with a woman who was bitten by the infected cat. Following that incident, the Hopewell Humane Society decided to introduce a program focused on controlling and protecting the area’s feral cat population as kitten season begins.
September Owens, the Operations Manager for the Hopewell Humane Society, said the organization felt it was important to act.
According to Owens, staff members came together and agreed that the community needed someone to take responsibility for addressing the issue, which led to the creation of a TNVR program.
TNVR stands for trap, neuter, vaccinate and release. Through the program, humane society staff locate feral cats throughout the community, humanely trap them, have them spayed or neutered, vaccinate them against illnesses such as rabies, and then release them back into their territory.
Owens explained that the effort depends heavily on community involvement. Residents are asked to contact the humane society and report where they have seen feral cats, as well as notify the organization if any appear injured or sick.
One of the most important parts of the program is the vaccination step. Owens said the recent rabies case, in which the infected cat transmitted the virus to at least one person, highlighted the importance of vaccinating feral animals.
She emphasized that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of rabies.
The new program is also launching during what animal welfare workers call “kitten season,” the time of year when the number of stray and feral cat births rises sharply.
Owens explained that as temperatures warm in the spring after the colder months, shelters and rescues typically begin seeing many pregnant cats and new litters of kittens.
Through TNVR, the humane society can locate pregnant feral cats and ensure they give birth in safer conditions. Once the kittens are born, they can be vaccinated to protect them from diseases like rabies and later spayed or neutered.
Officials hope that over time the effort will reduce the number of feral cats in the community and ease the burden on local shelters and rescues.
Owens said the current kitten season is already underway, so the program will not immediately reduce the number of kittens being born this year. However, she hopes the steps being taken now will make a difference by the next kitten season, preventing shelters and rescues from becoming overwhelmed by large numbers of kittens and pregnant cats.
About Post Author
