Take 5: Cat and Dog Sterilization Program

Originally published in the March 5, 2014, issue

 

Cobb

1. What is the cat and dog sterilization program?

 

In 2003, legislature was passed starting the dog and cat spay/neuter program. Georgia veterinarians would be able to spay or neuter Georgia pets belonging to Georgia owners at a reduced fee. Veterinarians submit a request to the Department to do a certain procedure for a specific owner and animal. We then check to see if the veterinarians have already met their quota for the month and everything is as it should be and then they get approval to do the procedure. We pay a certain amount of money per spay and per neuter. The Department establishes how many such procedures veterinarians can do each month, which is based on income. Income comes in the form of direct donations to the program, purchase of specialty license plates and a check-off from taxes. 

 

2. What are the benefits in participating in the program?

 

It allows people who don’t have the money for the procedures to have them done. It is helping animals because we have an overabundance of animals that are uncared for and that are reproducing at a great rate when their offspring are not wanted. By neutering and spaying these animals at an early age, or any age at all, it reduces the amount of stray animals.  

 

3. How can I participate?

 

The best way to participate is by buying a specialty license plate, by contributing directly to the program or by checking off on your tax form. When you do your taxes, you can check off that you want to contribute X-amount of dollars to the dog/cat spay and neuter program, or by the sale of three specialty tags. Once those tags are purchased, a certain amount of money goes to the program.

 

4. Why is it important for Georgia to have this program?

 

When an animal is not neutered or spayed and it is reproductively intact, not only are they producing offspring, but they are generally more aggressive animals that will tend to get in fights, invade dumpsters or become a nuisance. Some of those animals can be a source of disease because they are comingling with themselves. When you put a lot of animals together that are from different environments, you introduce disease. The disease is uncontrolled therefore spreading throughout these animals. They can carry zoonotic diseases such as hookworms, ringworms and rabies. These are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

 

5. Tell us a little about the new legislation regarding the program.

 

In 2010 the legislature changed the disposition of the funds. Originally when a person purchased the specialty license plate, $24 and some change was given to the program. There was no money provided if someone renewed a tag. In 2010, it was changed so that only $10 comes into the program when a tag is purchased and $10 is given to the program when someone renews. Initially, this provided for a large amount of money, but people began to realize that only $10 was coming into the program, so they quit buying tags. The tag income is now very low; therefore we have gone from a total of five procedures per vet per month down to one.

 

Dr. Robert Cobb is the Georgia state veterinarian. For additional questions on this program, please visit www.agr.georgia.gov or call the Animal Industry Division at 404-656-3671.

Visit with a Vet: Feral Swine -- More Than Just a Nuisance

Originally published in the Dec. 25, 2013, issue

 

 

Visit with a Georgia veterinarian in this monthly feature. This edition comes from State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb in Atlanta, Ga.

Free-ranging populations of wild pigs, or feral swine, exist in at least 39 states. Some estimate their numbers to be more than 4 million, with the largest populations located in California, Florida, Hawaii and Texas. Georgia’s large population of feral swine resides mostly in the river swamps of south Georgia, but can be found statewide.

Today’s feral swine population is a combination of escaped or neglected domestic swine, Eurasian wild boar and feral pigs that have been captured and transported for the purpose of starting wild, free-living populations. The intentional movement of trapped feral swine resulted in extensive crossbreeding of feral populations, producing many variations.

Feral swine regularly tear through livestock and game fences; consume animal feed; destroy field crops such as corn, milo, watermelon, peanuts, hay, turf and wheat; and, when given the opportunity, will prey upon young livestock and other small animals.

Moving untested feral swine to new areas or allowing them onto farms with domestic pigs is illegal in Georgia and can have disastrous consequences to the commercial swine industry. Feral swine can be imported into Georgia only by a special permit issued by the state veterinarian. Three feral swine agreements are utilized by the Department in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture. Individuals wishing to have feral swine facilities must meet strict testing, fencing and reproduction prevention protocols. The feral swine facilities are regularly inspected by the Department to assure compliance with the rules in order to maintain separation of feral swine from domestic herds.

Feral swine are carriers of a number of diseases: swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, tularemia, trichinosis, plague, anthrax, African swine fever, classical swine fever  or hog cholera and swine vesicular disease. USDA eradicated hog cholera from the US in 1976.

Though they’ve been eliminated or controlled from US commercial production swine herds, some are still found in Georgia feral swine and can be readily transmitted to humans and other animals:

Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease of animals and humans, caused by Brucella bacteria. Swine brucellosis is a reproductive disease, causing abortions in sows and infertility in boars. Infected swine are disease carriers for life and can serve as sources of infection. The only way to remove the disease is to detect infected swine through blood tests and cull the animals. In humans, the disease may mimic severe flu and may cause crippling arthritis or meningitis. Animals and humans are exposed to the swine Brucella bacterium by contact with infected blood, reproductive tissues and fluids from animals during farrowing, abortion or carcass dressing.

Pseudorabies: Viral PRV attacks the central nervous system and is fatal to cattle, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, opossums and small rodents. Though not fatal in swine, it causes abortions and stillbirths. Pseudorabies is caused by a herpesvirus in swine. It is not related to rabies and it does not infect humans. The spread of PRV from feral swine to domestic cattle has also been documented in Florida and Texas. Feral swine are known to break into feed bunks and congregate around areas where supplemental feed is distributed, providing a source of contamination of feed and potential spread of infection through contact with domestic herds.

Parasites: Feral swine are also host to several disease-causing parasites. These parasites include lung worm, kidney worm, thorny-headed worm, ascarid roundworm, hog lice and the parasite that causes trichinosis.

The more feral swine populations increase and expand, the greater the chances that they may transmit diseases to domestic animals, wildlife and humans as well as destroy expensive crops. To minimize the threat feral swine pose to domestic swine operations, farmers should not introduce wild pigs into herds or attempt to market wild-caught pigs. Before transporting breeding swine, perform blood tests according to state and federal guidelines, and blood-test all new stock before adding them to existing herds. Fence out feral swine and do not butcher feral swine on the farm, or feed offal from field-dressed wild hogs to domestic ones.



Take 5: Addressing Animal Welfare Concerns

Originally published in the Aug. 7, 2013, issue

Cobb

Featuring Dr. Robert Cobb, state veterinarian

1. What do you think the most common misconceptions are about farming and animal welfare?

Most people today are several generations removed from the farm and do not understand what is required to provide good food for the table. They are trying to compare what happens in an apartment patio or a small backyard garden to production farming. They do not understand their dog that they treat as a member of the family cannot be compared to a herd of cows or pigs. If they were able to spend some time on a working farm, a lot of the issues of today revolving around animal welfare and food costs could be resolved.

2. What are some things the Department does to ensure all livestock, poultry and companion animals are treated properly by owners and caretakers?

The Department has numerous inspectors that regularly visit all licensed facilities and respond to complaints. Working with local law enforcement and animal control, they are responsible for ensuring animals are treated humanely and that current law and rules are followed. The Department inspectors monitor livestock markets and inspect animals at shows and exhibitions. 

3. What should consumers do if they suspect a producer is treating animals improperly?

They should contact their local sheriff’s or animal control office. Also, they may contact the Department’s Animal Health Division at 404-656-3667 or the State Veterinarian’s office at 404-656-3671.

4. How can farmers prevent their employees from mistreating animals?

Farmers as well as their employees that handle animals should get training in animal handling. Certifications such as Beef Quality Assurance, Pork Quality Assurance and The National Dairy FARM Program are great programs to ensure that good animal handling is followed. These programs are beneficial to the animals, but they can help to increase production which benefits the farmer. In addition, the National Chicken Council has standards for their farmers and trains third-party auditors on these standards. For more information, contact Georgia Cattlemen's Association, Georgia Milk Producers, National Chicken Council or University of Georgia Extension Service.

5. If producers or farm workers are found to be mistreating animals, how is that situation handled?

Cruelty to animals is punishable by law. The sheriff's office can press charges. If the facility is licensed by the Department, the license can be suspended or revoked and administrative hearings could result in fines.