Local

Dog quarantined, might be euthanized after boy dies of rabies

A dog belonging to the family of a Lake County boy who died of rabies from a bat bite has been quarantined inside the Orange County Animal Shelter.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials did not feel that the dog, Cali, was in a safe situation, while she was staying with Haylee Roque, the sister of the boy who died. Roque lives in Orange County.

She brought the dog to live with her after the Lake County Health Department gave her approval for home confinement.
Roque said her family is still trying to cope with the loss of her 6-year-old brother, Ryker Roque.
Eighteen people who were exposed to the boy were vaccinated.
Cali was vaccinated as well.
According to documents, the bat was, “Placed on the dog’s back while alive.”
“They were afraid that she may have gotten rabies even though she had her shots,” Roque said.

%

INLINE

%%

INLINE

%

On Jan. 8, the Lake County Health Department released the dog to Roque for home confinement.
On Jan. 10, Orange County officials took the dog and brought her to the shelter to be quarantined.
“They wanted to take her because they didn’t feel safe with me quarantining her by myself,” Roque said.
Orange County Health Department officials said they reached the decision because there had been "several prior incidents” in which the dog escaped.
They also said the dog was “extremely aggressive.”
Documents said the dog “should be humanely euthanized.”

%

INLINE

%%

INLINE

%

Before the child died, health officials were planning to get a court order to try and euthanize the dog.
“I’d love to bring her home because I know she’s fine,” Roque said. “I took her to the vet and got her boosters, and the vet said she’s fine.”
The dog has not tested positive for rabies and has not shown any signs of the disease, officials said.
Although Cali is on a six-month quarantine, county attorneys are looking into whether the dog should be euthanized.
WATCH: What you need to know about rabies
Myrt Price

Myrt Price, WFTV.com

Myrt Price joined the eyewitness news team as a general assignment reporter in October of 2012.