Animation Source Forums

I have a story relevant to this thread.

I was campus animal control. If there was a bug the girls didn't want to deal with (and in one case a mouse in the dorm) I was called to get it.

This time, it was an injured bat in front of the dorm. I got a cardboard box, put my sweatshirt in it, picked up the bat, and tucked it in. I got a ride down the Humane Society, thinking they would help the bat.

I was really REALLY wrong.

I brought in the box, they were all smiles until I told them it was a bat. Then they duct taped the box shut and started grilling me, asking me if I touched it. I did, but I was so stunned I just said "I think I did." I was told I would have to get rabies shots. Bats are so contagious for rabies it doesn't matter if the test hasn't come back yet, you get the shots until told otherwise.

So I go to the hospital. Thankfully they don't do the stomach shot anymore, just a few shots to the thigh muscles.

One problem; I'm very skinny, and my thigh muscles weren't thick enough to take the shot. They figured out how to give me the shot; all four of them on the first visit. Let's just say I couldn't sit down without cringing.

I had to get 6 shots total before the rabies test came back negative.

Well of course it would have come back negative. You can't get rabies unless you get bitten, or your mucous membranes (i.e. gums, mouth, nose, open wounds) come into contact with infected saliva. And you would have told them immediately if you'd gotten a bite. I hope they didn't make you pay for those shots, otherwise I'd be pretty upset, personally, and try to get it back.

But yes, bats are one of the #1 carriers of rabies.

My grandma thought she had rabies after she was bitten by a squirrel. After complaining to us she went to the doctor and the doctor told her the illness is all in your head, you don't have rabies.

Thinking about rabies makes me nauseous. I mean, the thought of it.....gah.

If any of you have read "Where the Red Fern Grows", I think there was a mention of rabies in it. However, I may be wrong.

CBB: She was bitten by a squirrel and the didn't test her?

This topic makes me think of Cujo.

If you do infact get infected by rabies you need to get to the hospital right away for literally the most painful shots you will ever have, the needle is very thick and long and they put it threw your abdomen and it is extreamly painful, best to avoid getting rabies at all costs couse im telling you those shots are torture, id rather have an LP then that, seriously trust me I know it may seem im being over dramatic about but im not, thinking about it reminds me.

Great topic with great info but those lists of places that are rabies free don't buy it because everything finds a way theres no guarantee they are rabies free unless they have killed every animal thats most likely to get it and did an autopsy on there brains, it's only way to be sure before the higher stage symptoms kick in, and they obviously didn't do that making that list somewhat invalid.