• Do not feed or handle wild animals. Why we are here! Teach children that although a baby Preventing or may look cute and To protect the public and animals. friendly, it can be very dangerous. We enforce Local, State and Federal • Report wild carnivores that are seen animal laws. This ensures that people may wandering about during the day. Do enjoy living with knowing every resident not handle or pick up animals of any and all will be protected under these species (wild or domestic) that are sick laws. or acting strangely. To assist in returning lost pets back • Detain any animal that bites or behaves in an unusual manner (if home. possible) or get a good description of If your becomes lost, and is wearing a the animal (breed, color, size, sex, license or an identification tag at the time etc.). If a domestic owned animal, get of impoundment, every effort will be made name of owner, address and telephone to notify you in person, by mail or by and report it immediately to animal telephone. It is always best to put control. identification on your pet, as a tag is your • Cover your garbage cans, and don't pet's only voice. It is important to look for leave pets' food outside where it can your pet at the animal shelter quickly. attract wild animals. Animal adoption. • Do not keep wild animals as pets. Not only is this dangerous for you and the The Coastal Animal Services Authority animal, it's also against the law. makes every effort to ensure all pets find great, loving homes. We have all ages of • Never handle a , especially with bare hands. Use thick gloves, tongs, or , , and sometimes other a shovel to remove a dead bat, or call unique pets at the shelter. All pets are in bat-removal experts. Don't crush the spayed, neutered, and vaccinated before bat with a tennis racquet or other leaving for a loving home. We have object. special adoption programs for some pets. Just ask the staffer the volunteers! • Do not let your pet play with . San Clemente-Dana Point • Do no touch or pick up dead animals. Animal problems Animal Shelter • Avoid, If possible, situations where you For any animal related problems or or any other person may get bitten. complaints, call the Coastal Animal 221 Avenida Fabricante Services Authority at (949) 492-1617. If we cannot help you, we will direct you to San Clemente, CA 92672 the proper agency. 949-492-1617

What is Rabies? animals like dogs, cats. Ferrets, and farm and will carnivorous animals (, animals can get rabies from wild animals. raccoon, , , and bobcats) are Rabies is a viral disease that affects the This is why it's so important to vaccinate responsible for most cases of rabies in the nervous system of mammals. In the last pets and livestock. These are the animals United States today. Prevention of rabies stages of the disease, the moves that people are around the most. Pets and is approached by immunization and/or by from the brain into the salivary glands and stray dogs and cats can act like a bridge providing exposed persons with prompt saliva. From there the virus can be between wild animals and people, bringing medical care. transmitted through a bite or by contact rabies from wild animals into your home. with mucous membranes (nose, mouth, A healthy domestic or that bites a and eyes). Once the virus spreads through Any mammal (animals that have fur and person should be confined and observed the body, it can kill the victims, if not are warm-blooded) can get rabies. Birds, for 10 days and evaluated by a treated quickly. The good news is that a fish, snakes, and amphibians do not carry Veterinarian at the first sign of illness vaccine can prevent rabies in humans, rabies. Although it is possible for rodents during confinement or before release. By pets and livestock. to get the disease, animals like mice, rats, law, all dogs four months or older must be and squirrels almost never carry rabies. vaccinated for rabies. How is Rabies Transmitted? What are the Symptoms of How Can I Protect My The bite of an infected animal is the most common. A scratch, abrasion, or open Rabies in People? Animals and Myself? wound coming in contract with the blood or Early symptoms include irritability, The best protection against rabies is saliva of an infected animal is another. headache, fever and sometimes itching or of pets and avoidance of risk. There are a few documented cases of pain at the site of exposure. Early Law requires vaccination of dogs and cats. rabies being contracted in caves where symptoms are rarely diagnostic. The Keep your pets indoors and maintain the bats reside and in laboratories that work disease eventually progresses to current. with the virus. paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, • Do not feed or touch stray animals, and Bats can be dangerous carriers of rabies convulsions, delirium and death. avoid all sick or strange-acting animals. because their bite or scratch may be too What are the Symptoms of • Encourage enforcement of animal small to notice. A bat's teeth and claws are regulations including so small that a bite may not bleed or even Rabies in Animals? (A) registration/licensing of dogs, hurt. In fact, people sleeping in the same Changes in behavior are common in rabid (B) stray animal control, and room where a bat is found, or children who animals: nocturnal animals are seen (C) leash law have been alone in a room with a bat during the day, animals that are afraid of should see a doctor. humans, become aggressive, attack other animals or people without provocation. What Animals can spread May have paralysis of the limbs or throat, Rabies? or just lay down. Mostly wild animals spread rabies. In the How to Prevent Rabies United States and Canada, rabies is usually found in , skunks, foxes, Rabies precautions should be taken with coyotes, woodchucks, and bats. Domestic all animal bites, particularly wildlife. Bats