the hedge hog could be an excaped pet. I have seen people who own them as pets here in the states. We had a scare of rabies this trip. My lil one was bit in the face by a neighbors dog a week ago. It left a scratch on the bridge of her nose and two scratches on the inside of her upper lip. We didn't think much of it other than keeping the wounds clean and her away from that dog. Seems she was trying to teach the dog to roll over and it wasn't liking that at all. Two days later she comes down with a fever, headache, vomiting and her face is all swollen and hurting. I ride my Jimmie over to the next block where the dog resides to ask if their dog was up on their shots.
The man tells me that the dog is 2 and lives in their house and yard and has never been agressive before. Again I ask if the dog is up on his shots...he tells me that when they got the dog as a puppy, he had recieved his first shots already from the breeder. I just about lost my cool but realized me getting upset like that would not change the situation. So I proceeded to tell him my lil one was sick and if its from rabies then she will die soon. He just about passed out! He didn't know that rabies can kill. (duh) I told him that although her fever was not high, and we had gone to the water park the day after the bite so she might have caught something....that now I am uncertain if she was sick from the bite or from public pools. However, if I take her to an urgent care, what will happen is that they will inquire about the bite then they will come and take his dog away and put it in quarentine and he will most likely be fined.
I got his contact number then went back home. Hubby and I prayed for lil one and wisdom on what to do. I tell you I really had a sick feeling in my gut...really I did. Then I almost threw up. I started to think I was too stressed and just physically not able to take the stress...but then I realized I had a slight fever and headache....thats right! I went to the water park too and I must had caught a bug! So on that note, we watched lil one throughout the day and she started feeling better by the end of the day and was completely better the next day. The swelling took a few more days to go away but now the wounds are almost completely healed.
Meanwhile, the neighbor man had taken his dog to the vet after I left his house and not only got all the shots, but the vet put the dog into quarentine for 10 days. The vet was positive that the dog did not have rabies, but the vet did chew the guy out and educate him on the importance of the shots to protect not only the animal but his own children. Dogs can pass on more than just rabies. Luckily lil one is up on all her shots too, and she so far has not shown any signs of strepcoccis (sp?) or dipthiera (not sure if that is the right word I am looking for). The man appologies profusly and checked on lil one for several days afterward. I told him I was not out to sue him...just want him to understand the importance of immunizations when it comes to this sort of thing. My lil one learned a lesson too, never try and train someone elses dog unless you know them really well and the owner of the dog gives you permission. And by owner, I am meaning someone over the age of 18!