So I live in the States. (Moved from UK 5 years ago).
Yesterday I found a half eaten dead bat on our porch. I'm assuming one of our fucker cats caught it or found it dead. The dog also has access to the porch.
I'm not American but even I know that bats are one of the more common carriers of rabies.
Our dog is up to date on her rabies shots, the cats are possibly a little behind (depends on who you ask).
I've checked all the state information and it says that the animals should be quarantined for at least ten days whilst the animal is tested (I have the bat's head which is what they need to examine to rule out rabies.) Sometimes 45 days.
I've followed the vet's advice and called our animal control officer to get the bat tested and to ask what needs to happen to my cats and dog. Almost 2 days ago! Nothing back. The vet can't advise me as it's under the aco jurisdiction.
Aibu in being fucking furious? Dh is saying we can't complain about the aco as he's also our only policeman and in charge of the ambulance and is a paramedic.
Our poor cats have been shut in a dark basement for two days and the dog has been allowed outside of a room to pee quickly but that's it. I can't risk it with the likelyhood of them having been in exposure with the bat.
I'm sure it's only a tiny chance the bat was rabid but bloody hell, it's not something to mess around with. Our friends (in a different town with a better aco clearly) had bats in their house and they all had to have rabies jabs. Others had a rabid skunk in their garden and the aco was out within half an hour in the middle of the night.
I've left three messages in different places, dh two and a direct aco officer tried the emergency line and paging him, nothing.
I guess I'll just quarantine the cats and dogs for the suggested ten days and hope to fuck it didn't have rabies! 