Advocate for Ava.

This petition is for crucial inhumane treatment of pets and rights for owners that North Carolina feels is appropriate for animal control on rabid animal contact. In this case, particularly for Ava.

Our Government feels that it is acceptable to place a pet that was in contact with a rabid animal in solitary confinement for MONTHS with no access to exercise, to lay where they use the bathroom, have no human interaction and confined in a smaller than pound like cage regardless if it has contracted the disease or is immune.
 
Ava Backstory.
Ava was rescued from the Lenoir County, NC SPCA in September 2014. Ava is a female dog with a breed labeled as “Pitbull.” Ava is now approximately three and half years old to about four years old. At the time of adoption Ava was approximately a little over one year of age. Upon adopting Ava, the information provided to us was she was up to date on shots and as the new owners all we needed to do was have her fixed within 30 days or we would have to surrender her back to them. We had her fixed. In her shot record, being as Ava was over a year old; those shots should have included a booster for rabies or three year shot that would expired on September 28th 2017. Ava has since been to a veterinary office multiple times for different visits and occasions. Nor were any vaccines or boosters given when they should have been. Little did we know until the week of September 26th 2016 her world and ours would take a turn for the worse.

On Monday September 26th 2016, A raccoon had gotten into our fenced in back yard and attacked Ava. My husband broke them up and finished killing the raccoon. We immediately took Ava to our back deck into the light and cleaned her with Dawn soap and water. It seemed she only had a few scratches under her chin and on her belly. None of which were bleeding. Just open red areas. My Husband then sprayed off the porch, and the yard where the raccoon was killed, took it to the back of his truck bed until we could call animal control to pick it up the following day.

Tuesday September 27th 2016, I called Beaufort County NC Animal Control to have the animal picked up. They advised us they would not come to pick it up that we would need to bring it to them. My husband got off work early to take them the raccoon to have sent off for testing. Animal Control asked for Ava’s vet information as well to check shot records etc. Upon them calling her vet, and then Lenoir County, NC SPCA, we learned Ava had not been given a shot since she was adopted and worse, it was only a one year vaccine. Animal Control Advised we immediately call and pick one of three veterinary offices in Beaufort County, NC to have Ava placed in quarantine for three months regardless of the outcome of the rabid results. We were notified that we would receive results within 48-72 hrs. Two of the three vet offices we contacted, advised us they have never kept an animal in her situation for that period of time and they would not be able to accommodate us for that period of time. Only one vets office ( Pamlico Animal Hospital) could allow her to stay, however; they also advised us, they had never kept an animal for three plus months for this situation. I contacted the Beaufort County NC health dept. and spoke with them and they advised me once the results were back, if the animal did not have rabies, Ava could be released after a booster shot is given.

On Wednesday September 28th 2016, Ava rode in the front seat of my car (she loves riding with momma) and was placed in Pamlico Animal Hospital, in quarantine until we would receive results for the raccoon. She was allowed to have interaction with us, go out to exercise and use the restroom.

On Thursday September 29th 2016, we received a phone call letting us know that the results came back positive for rabies. They put an immediate order to have her placed in confinement for six months. Ava is not allowed to have human contact or interaction, she is not allowed to leave the small pound like cage she is in, she is not allowed to exercise and she must use the restroom where she sleeps and lays ( Ava is an inside pet. She is house trained and knows not to use the restroom inside and where she sleeps). Crushed, I called the Beaufort County, NC health dept. to ask if we could keep her in confinement for the time at home, have someone come out to check on her at random and do weekly visits to the vet. We were denied. The Beaufort County health dept. advised my husband to head to the ER to get vaccinations of rabies for being in contact with the diseased animal.

On Friday September 30th 2016, I went to see Ava like I have been every day and will continue to do so until justice is served and she is confined at her home; just this time under her new rules. Just in the two days she has been quarantined her personality has changed drastically. She is depressed, sad, scared and feels like she is back where I rescued her from. She mopes around, and hadn’t used the bathroom since being let out on early Thursday before getting the results. Her stay has turn into solitary confinement. My heart was broken to see my baby like that. I have pictures and videos of her just wanting to get out of that horrid place.

On Saturday October 1st, 2016, I went to see Ava. Her personality is rapidly sinking further and further into depression. My heart breaks for her.

Outweighing the Bad.
Ava needs to be home. Even if she needs to be quarantined and observed for the allotted amount of time. Leaving her where she is without human interaction, daily exercise, and not being able to be let out to use the restroom is inhumane.  The things that she is experiencing now are equal to an adult being put into solitary confinement. Which would mess with anyone’s social skills and ruin them psychologically. Same for pets. Imagen being taken away from your family you see every day, not getting your favorite foods and treats every day, not getting to play with your favorite toys every day and not being able to use the restroom other than where you sleep every day. Its inhumane for humans, so why wouldn’t it be inhumane for pets? It’s even inhumane for wildlife. Take an animal from its environment to place in a cage alone, with no explanation to it. Any living mammal that is placed in solitary confinement is absolutely, INHUMANE and will become “wild”. Research shows “any previously vaccinated dog or cat exposed to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal should be the same, regardless of the vaccination status. Specifically, we believe that appropriate postexsposure management for dogs and cats with an out-of-date vaccination status is immediate booster vaccination followed by observation for 45 days, rather than euthanasia or quarantine for 6 months. If additional reassurance is needed, a titer could be measured prior to and again 5-7 days after booster vaccination to determine whether [the appropriate response to the vaccine] has occurred.” -petmd Dr. Jennifer Coats ; A titers test was requested however, we were denied by the vet she is being housed at. “Unvaccinated dogs, cats, ferrets exposed to rabid animals should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.” “Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. “ – CDC.gov ( Center for Disease Control and Prevention) This being said, they are treating Ava as if she has never been vaccinated before. These are the steps to follow for animals that have never been vaccinated. Per the second quote; Her vaccine expired and needs to be evaluated on a CASE- BY-CASE BASIS. Studies also show that a 3-year rabies shot contains the same drug and is given to the animal as the same amount as a 1-year rabies shot. The only difference being the label on the bottle indicating 1-year verses 3-year. Its quoted " Its done that way purely to satisfy state laws." Research also shows that one single rabies shot can provide protection for a number of years. Research is also being conducted to prove a dog's protection for rabies over time frames as long as 5 to 7 years! More multiple research attempts that do not take that much effort, you can locate this information across the web, veterinarian boards, Center for Disease Control Prevention and more. Local Vets have also advised me on this same information. I was also advised by the Beaufort County NC Health Department, when asked what determines this treatment and time frame; they responded “the time and conditions are based upon the law and veterinary advice.” Funny to mention the three vets offices that represent her county have all said differently towards Ava’s treatment time frame and observation that should be done at home. Actions such as the NC officials we have been dealing with have caused lack of knowledge in the county and state upon just how many wild rabid animals there could potentially be. So many people do not call in incidents like this due to the lack of intelligence and down right awful protocol NC officials feel is appropriate. Thus, leading into more and more rabid wildlife running free without lack of population control of species such as but not limited to: raccoons, foxes, coyotes, wolves and beavers. Without incident calls, no one is concerned the area may be under a high rabid population in the surrounding wildlife. In which, population control is not being used. Which means more rabid wildlife.
 
About Ava.
Ava is a rescue “Pitbull” from a local SPCA. She is approximately three and a half to four years old. She is a brownish/black color with patches of white on her chest and “socks” on her feet. She has been an inside dog with the exception of going to play and bathroom breaks in our large fenced in back yard. Ava loves car rides, fishing, boating/kayaking, playing catch, running, taking up the bed and laying on the covers, playing doc Mcstuffins with my daughter, dress up and sneaking food her human sister gives her while our backs are turned. Ava is the sweetest pet, she doesn't fit society's stereotypical image of a "pit-bull". She’s never bit anyone, loves all faces, of all humans and animals. Ava is active at home with a myself (her mom), my husband, a human sister who is four years old, a sister puppy, frequent visits with my mother in-laws kitten and sibling chickens. All of which she loves dearly.

If Brought to Justice.
If Ava is able to be quarantined at home, we will purchase a high chain fenced pen, with built wood or concrete underneath to insure she cannot jump or dig out. My husband can have the only contact with her through the observation period to let her out to potty and exercise, as he has had his rabies vaccinations. Which are on file with the county. Our back yard where she would be placed in the pen is also fenced in as well. In event a storm, rain, or any other inclement weather should be active, we have a climate controlled storage building with higher up windows and lighting that is attached to the outside of our house she could remain in until the weather has passed.  Animal control could come at random to do checks on her, and we could do weekly visits to the vet office or pay to have one come out to our home to check on her. I feel as if, six months Is a long time for any animal to be placed under inhumane circumstances like she is. If no justice is brought to her, nor home; In six months Ava may be an unstable animal. With the lack of social skills, human interaction, familiar faces and atleast an environment she knows and understands. She is already suffering from severe depression being left in a pound like space just for the few days she has been there. My heart Breaks for her, and that’s why im asking for your help. Not to help me but to help Ava. She needs a voice and as her mom, I will do everything it takes to bring not only justice to her but other loved pets who are in the same scary situation.

Disclosure.
Whether Ava beats this horrid accident or it overcomes her, I will be forever grateful for her saving her family from a bad creature. She knew it was bad and potentially saved our daughter. It’s the least I can do, is try to make her stay in confinement as comforting as I can for her at home until she is back to being the hyper happy pit she is or until her final breath. This is Ava’s story and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for at least taking the time to read it. If you would like to follow Ava’s story and see videos and pictures of her through this chapter in her life, you are more than welcome to search me on Facebook  ‘ Kayla Ballance’ or search for me on Instagram ‘ kay_luhballance’.
God Bless.