Thursday, December 07, 2006
McHenry County's Veterinarian Administrator Justifies the Cat Tax Ordinance
In writing the article yesterday on the proposed county cat tax, I called Dr. Edin Mehanovic, Veterinarian Administrator for the McHenry County Public Health Department.
He graciously allowed me to ask him about the ordinance.
I asked how many McHenry County cats had caught rabies.
“We don’t have the data for that,” he replied.
I immediately thought of his predecessor from the 1960’s and 1970’s, Doc Johnson. We were in Woodstock Rotary. I guess he didn’t keep such records.
Of course, it could be that there were no records of cat rabies to keep, considering what Dr. Mehanovic told me next:
He cited “examples of counties that are a little more advanced. They are not as rural. They are trying to do things before they happen
“They are doing prevention, rather than waiting for the disease to appear and then to deal with the disease…like Lake County, like Cook County. They have mandatory rabies vaccination for cats and dogs.”
I again asked the number of cases of cat rabies there.
“I don’t have data for that but I’m positive they have not have cases of rabies in cats for the last 12 years,” Dr. Mehonovic replied.
Why should McHenry County require rabies vaccinations of cats?
“Prevention,” was his answer.
“I will give you an example. McHenry County Animal Control had 8 positive cases of rabies in bats in the last year.”
“Why cats?” I asked.
“Because they are outside, I guess,” he answered.
“The number of cats that are outside compared with dogs that are outside--there are more outdoor cats than outdoor dogs. I think you would agree,” he continued.
“I did not see that many dogs that would be hunting bats, but I would say that every cat that is outside would go after a bat or an animal of that size. Cats are roamers. They are hunters more than dogs and certainly they will be more exposed to rabies in bats than dogs.”
“Very good point,” I replied.
Then, I brought up the exception in the ordinance for barn cats, which I think is a devastating flaw. What cat is more likely to hunt a rabid cat than one in a barn or otherwise outside?
“We would make a program to vaccinate these cats together with groups like Animal Outreach Society and Helping Paws. They are already doing that,” he said.
“We have program--Trap, Neuter and Release.
“We would vaccinate these cats for rabies,” Dr. Mehonovic explained.
“So my house cat is going to be subsidizing the barn cats?“ I asked.
“Yes.”
I don’t think the good doctor has made the case for mandatory vaccination of all indoor cats for rabies, but I greatly admire his candor and straightforward answers.
= = = = =
Mug shot of Keely Cat, aka, Mitten, aka, Badmitten.
For more McHenry County Blog, click here.
He graciously allowed me to ask him about the ordinance.
I asked how many McHenry County cats had caught rabies.
“We don’t have the data for that,” he replied.
I immediately thought of his predecessor from the 1960’s and 1970’s, Doc Johnson. We were in Woodstock Rotary. I guess he didn’t keep such records.
Of course, it could be that there were no records of cat rabies to keep, considering what Dr. Mehanovic told me next:
In the last 15 years there was no case of cat rabies in McHenry County.Next, I asked about the need for such an ordinance.
He cited “examples of counties that are a little more advanced. They are not as rural. They are trying to do things before they happen
“They are doing prevention, rather than waiting for the disease to appear and then to deal with the disease…like Lake County, like Cook County. They have mandatory rabies vaccination for cats and dogs.”
I again asked the number of cases of cat rabies there.
“I don’t have data for that but I’m positive they have not have cases of rabies in cats for the last 12 years,” Dr. Mehonovic replied.
Why should McHenry County require rabies vaccinations of cats?
“Prevention,” was his answer.
“I will give you an example. McHenry County Animal Control had 8 positive cases of rabies in bats in the last year.”
“Why cats?” I asked.
“Because they are outside, I guess,” he answered.
“The number of cats that are outside compared with dogs that are outside--there are more outdoor cats than outdoor dogs. I think you would agree,” he continued.
“I did not see that many dogs that would be hunting bats, but I would say that every cat that is outside would go after a bat or an animal of that size. Cats are roamers. They are hunters more than dogs and certainly they will be more exposed to rabies in bats than dogs.”
“Very good point,” I replied.
Then, I brought up the exception in the ordinance for barn cats, which I think is a devastating flaw. What cat is more likely to hunt a rabid cat than one in a barn or otherwise outside?
“We would make a program to vaccinate these cats together with groups like Animal Outreach Society and Helping Paws. They are already doing that,” he said.
“We have program--Trap, Neuter and Release.
“We would vaccinate these cats for rabies,” Dr. Mehonovic explained.“So my house cat is going to be subsidizing the barn cats?“ I asked.
“Yes.”
I don’t think the good doctor has made the case for mandatory vaccination of all indoor cats for rabies, but I greatly admire his candor and straightforward answers.
= = = = =
Mug shot of Keely Cat, aka, Mitten, aka, Badmitten.
For more McHenry County Blog, click here.
Labels: McHenry County Republican Cat Tax, Rabies, Veterinarian
Friday, September 29, 2006
No Patronage at Brookfield Zoo?
Yesterday the Chicago Tribune ran as an editorial a mock “State of Cook County” speech.
Here’s its next-to-last paragraph:
He used to work at Brookfield and he surely thinks patronage was alive and kicking when he left.
Here’s its next-to-last paragraph:
We need to get politics out of what we do. Look at our three best-run operations--Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the county golf courses. Those are the three places where the County Board least intrudes. When we don't play politics, things run better.Maybe someone from the Tribune editorial board should talk to my veterinarian.
He used to work at Brookfield and he surely thinks patronage was alive and kicking when he left.
Labels: Brookfield Zoo, Veterinarian
