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 With a rise in the number of bats testing positive for rabies, the Fort Wayne - Allen County Department of health and Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control want to remind residents to avoid any contact with wildlife.

Although bats may be helpful to humans by consuming insects such as mosquitos, they also pose the greatest risk to rabies transmission to Hoosiers and this is typically a peak time of the year for encounters with the winged creatures.

A bat that is active during the day, in unable to fly, or is found in a place where bats are not usually seen -- such as a room in your home -- is more likely to be rabid.

"Rabies is endemic in bats and finding more positives at this time of the year does not mean our city has an unusual problem," says Belinda Lewis, Director of Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control. "When these encounters occur, however, the bat should be safely captured and preserved for testing and the person should seek immediate medical attention if bitten."

Rabies is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals when they are bitten or scratched by the rabid animal. If left untreated, rabies is fatal to humans and animals.

Because a person can be bitten without knowing it, persons exposed to bats may be given the rabies vaccine as a precaution. In many cases, however, treatment is unnecessary if the bat can be safely captured and found to be rabies-free. Recent cases of rabies in humans in the U.S. have been due to bat bites that were not recognized or reported.

"Bats have very small teeth and their bite marks can disappear very quickly," says Dr Deborah McMahan, Allen County Health Commissioner. "If you awake and find a bat in your room, contact your family doctor as you might not have felt the bite when you were sleeping. Through good education and prevention, we can prevent most cases of human rabies."

More information can be found at http://www.allencountyhealth.com or by calling (260) 427-1244.

To reduce the risk of rabies exposure:

Avoid contact with bats and other wild animals.

Bat - proof your home by plugging or caulking any holes larger than a quarter-inch by half-inch that bats can use to gain entry, by using chimney caps and window screens, and ensuring that all doors to the outside close tight. If necessary, hire a professional to do the work.

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  1. Protect your dogs, cats and ferrets from rabies with up-to-date vaccines.

  2. Cats living indoors should be vaccinated as they are the most likely to come into contact with a bat.

  3. Kittens and puppies need a rabies vaccine by age 3 months.

If you are bitten by a bat:

Immediately wash the wound with soap and water and then seek medical attention. Report the incident to your local animal control agency.

If a bat is present in your home and you cannot rule out the possibility of exposure, make every effort to caputure the bat safely with heavy gloves and a container such as a coffee can. Wearing long sleeves is also recommended. City residents can contact Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control to have the bat safely removed.

Whenever a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person or a young child or disabled person, it is also important to have the bat tested. Immediately notify your local animal control agency of any incidents.

Adoption Lobby Hours:

12:00 - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
12:00 - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. First Saturday of each month

Closed Mondays FOR ADOPTIONS
To submit a pet adoption profile, you must do so 15-minutes before closing to allow sufficient time for processing.

Adoptions number:

260-427-5502


Business Office Hours (lost & found pets, citations, or other law enforcement concerns):

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri
CLOSED Saturday & Sunday


Animal Control Officer Assistance
260-427-1244
9am-8pm Monday - Friday
After 8pm, weekend & holidays,
call 260-449-3000

After Hours / Immediate Officer Assistance:
1:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. Emergencies
260-449-3000


General Contact Information:
Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control
3020 Hillegas Road
Fort Wayne IN 46808
260-427-1244
After 8 p.m. and on weekends and holidays, call 449-3000 for assistance.
Fax: 260-427-5514


It is our mission to serve our community in a humane, public safety capacity while working to keep pets with loving families by providing education opportunities and resources or facilitating re-homing or adoption when necessary.

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