First Alabama rot case confirmed
Coin struck to mark vote centenary
THE first case of Alabama rot has been confirmed in the South Wales Valleys after an 11-year-old Jack Russell died from complications related to the disease.
The disease can lead to a dog’s flesh rotting, as well as resulting in kidney failure, vomiting and – in severe cases – death.
The first case of Alabama rot in the UK was reported in 2012 and since THE great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst has struck a commemorative 50p coin to mark the centenary of the passing through Parliament of the Representation of the People Act.
Dr Helen Pankhurst was at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant to mark the moment 100 years ago – on February 6, 1918 – when women were finally given the right to vote.
Servicemen over the age of 19, men over 21, and women over the age then a number of dogs have died in North Wales and the south east.
In the most recent reported case, a Jack Russell from Penrhiwfer in the Rhondda, died from kidney complications related to the disease.
Bilbo, also known as Mr B, was put to sleep on January of 30 and “of property” were allowed to vote in elections for the first time.
Speaking after she had struck a coin, Dr Pankhurst said: “I am really proud that this coin has come out to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act. It is important the coin depicts men and not just women because it wasn’t just women that were franchises, but younger men as well. To be able to 23 after a sore on his paw led to kidney failure. His owners Rachel Ogden and her wife Nikki Paterson are devastated.
“He [Bilbo] was a lovely old boy and loved to wear dickie bows,” 40-year-old Rachel said.
“We knew there was a possibility it could have been Alabama rot when they told us his kidneys were failing.They said there was nothing more have a coin in your pocket that commemorates that event... I think Emmeline would have been really proud.
“There is so much to be said about coins and their value in society.
“The suffragettes used to deface coins and there was a penny coin they used to deface with ‘votes for women’ written on it and here we are today in 2018 marking the centenary of the right to vote.
“I think Emmeline would be very amused and proud for how things they could do for him.”
Rachel and Nikki say they knew something was wrong when Bilbo started to lick a sore on his paw.
According to experts at Vets4Pets, the first sign of Alabama rot is usually a sore on the skin, not caused by a known injury. The skin can become red, and the sore can look like an open ulcer.
“He kept licking a little nick on his paw,” Rachel have changed and she would be remembering those defaced coins.”
The coin was designed said. “It’s something that I’ll probably regret forever, but at the time I just thought it was nothing more than a little cut.”
Rachel’s wife Nikki, who grew up on a farm, suggested spraying the cut with antiseptic spray. But it wasn’t long before it developed into what Rachel says looked like “chemical burns”.
“We knew straight away that we had to go to the by Royal designer who queuing Mint graphic Stephen Taylor, modelled the people on his vet,” she said.
Vets confirmed Bilbo was suffering from kidney failure.
“We went down to say our goodbyes last Tuesday and before we had the chance to ask for one – the vet suggested a biopsy. At that point we knew there was a possibility it could have been Alabama rot, but until we had confirmation, we didn’t want to tell anyone. We didn’t want to wife and children.
“My design uses the familiar idea of a British queue, to suggest a line of people waiting to cast their votes at the ballot box,” he said. “I began with the strong, celebratory pose of the woman holding her ballot aloft, followed by the soldier, the working class man and the suffragette.
“I paid careful attention to their poses and clothing, showing the different classes of society finally being given a political voice after years of struggling scare people unnecessarily.”
Rachel and Nikki found out the results of the biopsy on Monday while picking up Bilbo’s ashes from the vets.
“They confirmed it was Alabama rot,” Rachel said. “The vet told me he had sent the sample to their research team. From what I can tell, there isn’t actually much information about where exactly it to be heard.”
Helen Antrobus, of the People’s History Museum in Manchester, added: “It’s really great to see a Representation of the People Act 1918 50p amongst the new coin designs for 2018.
“I wish it were possible for all of us to carry one in our pockets to carry forward that message of equality first started by the Act 100 years ago, reminding us that we still have work to do.”
Coins bearing the design are likely to be seen in circulation later this year.