In Central Park, New York raccoons attack dogs

The authorities in New York warn all dog owners in the city about the danger of walking their pets in Central Park without a leash. The fact is that a distemper has been found in the wild raccoons living there. Already investigated about a hundred individuals, in whose blood was found deadly disease. What do the veterinarians think about the danger and how seriously do the residents of the metropolis themselves take the warning, the correspondent Rtvi Ksenia Mushtuk.

Фото: Depositphotos

Cute, fluffy and strange. Inhibition of movement, increased salivation, loss of coordination, convulsions. Such raccoons for a month now can be seen walking in Central Park. Studies conducted by the Park Protection Authority have shown: it is here that about a hundred raccoons are infected with plague, three dozen of them have already died.

“This is a so-called neurotropic virus. It mainly affects young animals with underdeveloped immunity. A virus that affects the nervous system, lungs, skin, and intestines. The main one is a neurological condition. The animal eventually dies,” says veterinarian Igor Brodetsky.

Veterinarian Igor Brodetsky, during his 20-year work practice in New York, has never met a chance that his four-legged patients would have this virus. That's because pet owners of the metropolis vaccinate their pets every year.

According to the city’s health department, such a large outbreak of infection in Central Park occurred for the first time. Already recorded two cases of attacks on dogs. In this regard, the authorities issued an official warning. Plates are at each entrance to Central Park.

According to statistics, more than half of the inhabitants of the City of a large apple are loners. There is no time left for privacy in the mad rhythm of a megacity. But on a pet - yes. A dog for a New Yorker is not just a man’s friend, but literally a family member.

Statistics say that every thirteenth New Yorker has a dog. So the owners of dogs should take the warning of officials more than seriously.

“Yes, I heard about the warning on the news and then I saw this sign. I usually let my Alex roam without a leash, but now he will be on a leash just in case,” says New Yorker Merida.

“I don’t come into contact with them, I look from afar,” notes New York resident Igor.

Patrick - the owner of a dog named Einstein. In the park, they came to celebrate the birthday of the dog. Einstein today is three years old. They walk in Central Park during the day and have never seen a raccoon.

“Of course, I’ll be surprised if I see a raccoon crawling out of the bushes now, and you probably will too. I heard about the warning yesterday and it doesn't scare me too much. I've seen heroin syringes on the subway floor, so raccoons aren't the scariest thing in New York. I just try not to walk in the park in the evening, that’s all the protection,” says Patrick.

Amy has a bigger dog, and usually he and Ajax walk in the park in the evening so that he can run away from the crowds of tourists.

“Yes, I see them every night. They usually just cross the paths and run further into the forest. I'm only worried about the dog, that they don't touch him. I didn’t hear about the warning, but I try to stay away from them anyway,” says New Yorker Amy.

However, experts say, if from a plague-infected raccoon you can simply move away to a safe distance, there is another disease: rabies.

“In order to catch rabies, you need to be bitten by a sick animal. Unlike other viruses, it multiplies in nervous tissue and appears in saliva in the final stages. Two or three days before death, the animal develops zombie syndrome, as the media call it. It’s a fatal disease, people die from it,” Brodetsky says.

The virus causes inflammation of the brain in animals and humans. True, the New York Park Authority is reassuring: none of the raccoons surveyed found rabies. Now the sanitary services are throwing special drugs around the park, hoping that the raccoons will eat them.

But the main problem is that the population of these animals continues to grow. And all because of the fact that they are constantly fed by the townspeople. City officials strongly recommend not feeding raccoons. And if you see an animal that behaves strangely, call 311.

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