
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990                   TAG: 9006130486
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WILD ANIMAL MAY BE `CUTE,' BUT STAY AWAY

I HAVE worked with domestic animals for three years, and with wildlife for approximately a year. Fortunately for me, I have learned to temper my soft-heartedness with a strong sense of justice for the animals I deal with and don't deal with.

I care for injured animals in a hospital setting. I do not make pets from wild creatures. The fact that an animal is "cute" is no reason to deprive it of its freedom or its very life.

In the case of the raccoon and some other fairly common wildlife, to touch could mean a death sentence for the animal. When the "cute" raccoon defends itself by biting the human "animal lover," that human could very well be in danger of contracting rabies, especially since in wild animals a lack of fear of humans is often a sign of that fatal disease.

When an animal is caught, there is only one way to test for rabies: by removing the animal's brain and sending it off for testing at a laboratory. I know of very few creatures that can live without their brains in place.

As an animal lover, I beg all the other soft-hearted humans to look at, enjoy the beauty of, and not touch the wild animals that are so enticing by being cute. It is also not a good idea to encourage animals to stay around by feeding them. Seek professional advice if any animal becomes a problem. ELIZABETH S. ST. CLAIR ROANOKE

by CNB