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I always get a kick out of a newscast that states a rabid fox/coyote/skunk or racoon was shot today in some local town. When in fact what they probably had if anything is distemper if they were acting strangely or looked ill. It takes ten days to get the test back for rabies. If it takes ten days then it is certain that a newscaster or anyone else would not know if any animal is rabid when it was shot. Towns don't very often test an animal after an official shoots it, because the test cost $500.00, and no municipality is going to pay for it. If someone was bitten by an alledgedly rabid animal they would have to pay for the test if they wanted it done. Thats why if anyone is bitten they always start the treatment for rabies because it takes so long to get the test results, and if they did contract rabies from a bite and then waited the tens days they would be screwed.
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