Town Rallies to Return Impounded Dog to Her Family for Christmas

on December 5, 2011 at 7:24 PM

Free Maggie! While some people were occupying Wall Street, others were showing up to show support for Maggie, a Connecticut-based dog who has gotten worldwide attention ever since she innocently bit a dead bat on a walk and was taken to the vet by her concerned owner.

Rabies is nothing to mess around with -- rabies deaths are painful and awful! But the Connecticut state statutes were pretty strict: Because her rabies booster was out of date (by three months!), Maggie was required to be in quarantine at the dog pound for three months.

Maggie’s family was heartbroken. Maggie herself started to freak out from being alone so much and suffered from skin infections. And a community went into action.

The trouble was that there wasn’t enough brain tissue in the dead bat to test for rabies, so they had to go with the worst-case scenario. Never mind that there’s good evidence that yearly rabies boosters are medically unnecessary (you can test for the antibodies, and they have been proven to last longer than three years). The vet and the city of Stonington agreed that they’d be better safe than sorry, and Maggie was in the pound.

In the great scheme of things, this isn’t the biggest deal in the world. Yet my heart is warmed by the outpouring of concern over Maggie. She was put in the pokey around October 22, and on November 26, 50 people turned up for a protest march at the town hall. Newspapers around the world reported on her plight. Her Facebook page, Free Maggie, has nearly 2,000 members, all posting in support of Maggie and her owner. (Well, mostly. There are a few arguments about how the boosters should have been kept updated. But that's Facebook for you!)

Finally, the town decided that, since her health records showed she had been well cared for and had her booster shots in all the years preceding Batgate, she could be released one month early and finish her quarantine at home.

Hey, sometimes it’s the little stories that make the big ones more bearable.

Would you have marched for Maggie?

About the author Amy Keyishian

can't understand you when you ask like that -- can you ask again in a voice that isn't whiny?

Filed Under: newsworthy, pets

Comments (41)

Caera

on Dec 5, 2011 at 8:22 PM

If Maggie's owners weren't irresponsible idiots, and they'd made sure that Maggie's licences were kept in accordance with the requirements of where they live, none of this would've happened. Too bad they had to learn a lesson at the expense of the animal they're supposed to care for.

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Bmat

on Dec 5, 2011 at 8:31 PM

There is the point that the reason there was the problem was that her owners didn't keep up on important immunizations.

douxmusique

on Dec 5, 2011 at 8:34 PM

It's just a Damn dog. Who cares if it has to be in quarantine. They should have kept her up to date.

PonyChaser

on Dec 5, 2011 at 9:10 PM

It has been proven that the common rabies vaccine is actually a three-year vaccine. It is MADE that way, and there is talk among doggie circles that dogs can be over-vaccinated, much like our vax/antivax conversations here. Some states have switched the vaccination regulations, but other states are paranoid about it - they know the science, they are well aware that the vaccinations are three-year vax, but they refuse to change the laws because they don't want people to forget.

Problem is, it's people who don't give a rat's patootie about their animals or the law who won't be vaccinating anyway - and they don't bother to get the main vaccine to start with, so they're not going to et boosters, either.

So, quite honestly, the boosters in this case are overkill and completely unnecessary, making the entire quarrantine unnecessary.

Therefore, the law is unnecessary, and this dog was improperly imprisoned.

Yes, rules are rules, and they should have followed them. But by the same token, this is obviously a case of "let's make an example," instead of thoughtful and proper application of a well-thought out law.

momtolittleg

on Dec 5, 2011 at 9:53 PM

pony chaser, as a former vet tech, I agree. Many dogs (and cats) are likely over-vaccinated, and unlike human doctors, vets DO make a majority of their money from out-of-pocket preventative care expenses. Many dogs may have life-long immunity from one or two shots, but it is more expensive to check the titers than it is to vaccinate, so most owners just vaccinate. Unfortunately, laws are laws, and this encounter is the main reason why even dogs who would never bite someone should be kept up-to-date. I agree that they are being hard-asses about this, and it sure sucks.

I'm vaccinated against rabies, though I've never had my titer checked since I got the vaccine 15 years ago. I would probably have to go through the whole protocol of post-exposure shots to be safe, but I'm willing to bet I still have the immunity.

MrsCareBear

on Dec 6, 2011 at 9:51 AM

I pity people who make comments like "Its just a damn dog."

Facebook comment from Stacy Clausen

on Dec 6, 2011 at 10:01 AM

nativity my so many hateful words out here maybe they don't license in there town, did the vet send a reminder notice 3 yrs is along time to be right on for a date i sure hope none of u get into a sitution like this or any other ie: speeding, drunk driving, not paying bills and getting wages garnished., you will be screaming the loudest just remember your words than that you were not a responsible adult and than this is what happens

Facebook comment from Nicole Rains

on Dec 6, 2011 at 10:02 AM

I would have marched for this dog!!! I can't stand people who want to judge other animal owners....3 months out?!? Seriously get over it not like she had never been vacinated. You never know what someone else is going through and her over all record showed she was taken care of. Lord forbid anyone forget anything!!! I swear some people are so stupid, really hope these perfect people never forget anything by a couple months even though it proven that the shots last longer than a year or 3 years if you get the 3 year shot. I mean come on really!

LuvMyMedic3ID

on Dec 6, 2011 at 10:05 AM

I pity people who put the well being of their children over a stupid dog.

Facebook comment from Joyce Stafford

on Dec 6, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Poor doggy, but no she should not be returned early, it’s being quarantined for a reason. And in the future I guess her owners should keep all her shots up to date. Rules are rules and they are there to keep everyone safe and healthy. I’m sad the dog obviously does not like its current situation, but that’s the breaks. Be a responsible pet owner – or don’t own pets!