City officials are sounding the alarm on a rampaging distemper outbreak that's hitting harder than your average New York blizzard. The virus has been wreaking havoc among the local raccoon populace, posing a real threat to household pets.
Rolling up their sleeves, Allen Animal Services is setting up a low-cost vaccine clinic to combat the outbreak. From 10 a.m. to noon, pet owners can bring their dogs on leashes and cats in carriers to get the shots that could be the difference between life and pre-emptive mourning. And don't fret about paperwork—city pet registration can be done on the spot, according to the City of Allen.
The situation has gotten so dire that Senior Animal Services Officer Chow-Hayes reported picking up around "41 raccoons that have been sick and dying or deceased from this virus" over the past six weeks. With raccoons more friendly to people when sick with this distemper, they could be easily mistaken for the neighborhood's new fuzzy pals—a dangerous misstep.
Distemper is not one to take sides. It's an equal-opportunity menace to both woofers and whisker-twisters. Dogs and cats shouldn't feel left out as the virus has no qualms about jumping between species. It's best to not roll the dice and get your pets vaccinated. Should you spot a raccoon that seems a bit off, or showing extra chumminess when they're usually reserved, keep your distance and dial-up Allen Animal Services at 214.509.4378, the fastest way to help the critter and protect the community.
