Labrador retriever in contact with rabid raccoon euthanized; companion dog grieves

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Fred Mowery and his fiancée, Karen Smith, were on their way to dinner a week ago when they heard the dogs ó Katie Scarlett and Salinger, both Labs ó barking.
Mowery said it was unusual, since Katie Scarlett rarely barked at night.
The dogs were protecting the Godbey Road home from an unwanted visitor ó a raccoon.
Salinger, a blond Labrador retriever, had apparently tussled with the raccoon. A few days later, he had to be euthanized. The raccoon was rabid. This is the 19th rabies case reported this year by Rowan County Animal Control.
Mowery got his pistol and shot the raccoon in the head. With gloved hands, he placed the raccoon in his shed until Animal Control arrived.
“One was current. The other was behind about a month,” Mowery said.
He blames himself for not keeping Salinger up-to-date with his vaccinations.
Mowery said he let Salinger’s shots expire.
The decision to have Salinger euthanized was a difficult one.
Mowery was willing to pay the boarding costs, which would have meant thousands to keep the dog quarantined for six months.
However, knowing his dog’s temperament, he knew Salinger would not survive without human contact.
“I couldn’t understand not talking to him. But they said you couldn’t talk to him. It broke my heart,” he said.
Mowery had to say goodbye to Salinger, a dog he’s had for five years, since he was a pup.
“I couldn’t see that happening to my dog. It’s my own dang fault,” he said.
Since Salinger’s death, Mowery said Katie Scarlett has felt the loss. Katie Scarlett and Salinger were like sister and brother.
When he takes the black Lab for her routine walks, she waits and looks for Salinger.
This past weekend, Mowery bought another companion dog for Katie Scarlett, who he’s had for three years.
He bought an 8-month-old brown Labrador named Buddy Boy.
Mowery said he is definitely going to make sure Buddy Boy is neutered and current on all shots.
He’s hoping the new dog will “fill in the gap.”
Smith, who was holding Salinger while Mowery shot the raccoon, was at risk for rabies and now has to undergo a series of shots.
So far, Smith has had seven. She will continue getting shots in the new year.
Mowery said Smith, who is a former Emergency Medical Technician, is experienced with giving shots, but not getting them.
Salinger was the neighborhood dog. Mowery said Salinger even had sleepovers at some of the neighbor’s homes.
It was hard breaking the news to them. But he also wanted to warn them to make sure their animals were current on shots.
“He was just an everybody dog. He was the most humble dog I’ve ever had,” he said.
Salinger got his name from the family Mowery bought him from. Their last name was Salinger and the name stuck.
Mowery wishes there was something different that could be done with dogs who are at risk for rabies besides being quarantined for six months.
“We take it a day at a time,” he said.