Rabies--we've all heard of it. How many of us, in
our childhood, would play act that the neighbor's dog had rabies
as we would run screaming from it as it chased us? Then we would
all fall together, laughing, into a big heap, as the dog licked
us unmercifully. Back then, we took for granted that 
Fido
did not have rabies, of course, but now we can't take that
chance. Rabies is here to stay for a while, and we all need to be
careful to protect ourselves, family and pets.
What exactly is rabies? It is a virus that is carried in the saliva of an infected animal. It affects warm-blooded animals...that's us too folks. Wild animals become infected through the saliva of an animal with rabies, but not necessarily through a bite. Because incubation is from two weeks to over a year, you may not see the symptoms. Death usually occurs within two weeks of the symptoms appearing.
Furious rabies and dumb rabies are caused by the same organism which affects the central nervous system. They have different symptoms, but one end result.
Furious rabies is more common and elicits "mad dog" syndrome. A wild animal may seem abnormally friendly or attack for no apparent reason, even biting at the air.
Dumb rabies results from paralyzed throat and jaw; thus, the drooling aspect. Remember the fear of water associated with the rabies of our childhood nightmares? The animal becomes thin because it cannot drink or eat, and its voice may sound like a sore throat.
Remember: a person does not have to be bitten to be infected by the virus. Saliva getting into a scratch, paper cut, even mucous membrane of the eye, can also infect someone.
Wildlife Welfare, Inc. has always recommended that rehabbers dealing with rabies-susceptible mammals obtain a pre-exposure vaccine, a series of three shots. Call your health department for further information. Be sure to get your pets vaccinated, also. There are many clinics held for pets at the nominal cost of $5 per animal.
The Wildlife Resources Commission has asked that North Carolina rehabilitators not work with raccoons and foxes. These animals, along with skunks and bats, are the main carriers of rabies in the U.S..
There is no need for rehabbers to panic or quit doing what they love-helping animals. Just be cautious, keep informed, and protect yourself.