These animals never had rabies…but were killed anyway
- 600milliondogs.org
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
In the U.S., around 120,000 animals are killed every year to test for rabies.
Their heads are cut off so laboratories can examine their brains.
Only 6% of those animals test positive.
The rest die for nothing.
This is what happened to P’Nut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.
They lived with a kind man who rescued animals no one else would help.
Both were healthy, loved, and safe — until state agents stormed his home.
Without warning, they took the animals.
They were killed and decapitated the same day.
A week later, the test results came back: P’Nut and Fred did not have rabies.
Their deaths were not an accident.
Records show the state had already planned to kill them — before any “bite” was reported.
They died for nothing.
Under current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy, a dog or cat suspected of rabies must be killed.
Their head is cut off so brain tissue can be tested.
If an unvaccinated dog bites someone — even while injured or afraid — the law often requires her to be killed.
Not just killed.
Beheaded.
Her body taken apart so the brain can be tested.
This cruelty doesn't stop with dogs and cats; it extends to wild animals, too.
Veterinarians do not want to do this.
But they are forced to.
One veterinarian called the process "physically and emotionally draining."
Another said, “Removing the head is hard work... It seems like the ultimate failure”.
What makes this even harder to accept is that non-lethal rabies tests have existed for over 25 years.
They include saliva, skin, spinal fluid, and blood.
One such test is 95% accurate and requires no decapitation.
The CDC itself lists them as valid options to detect rabies before death — but only for people.
Humans get tested without being killed.
Animals deserve the same chance.
If these tests were approved, they could save millions of lives, open space in shelters, and stop cruelty disguised as safety.
Tell the CDC: It is time to:
Together, we can stop this cruelty.
Thank you for taking action for animals.
Sources:
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