Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Three dogs in Fort Worth isolated after skunks test positive for rabies

By Pegasus News wire

FORT WORTH — Three dogs are now isolated after encountering two skunks that tested positive for rabies. The encounters occurred in two separate incidents involving different skunks.

In the first incident, the dog was not current on its rabies vaccination. The owner was contacted and had the dog vaccinated for rabies. The incident occurred in ZIP code 76117.

The second incident involved two dogs that are current on their rabies vaccinations. The incident occurred in ZIP code 76248.

The two dogs that are currently vaccinated will receive an immediate rabies vaccination booster and will be isolated for 45 days. The dog that was not currently vaccinated will receive an immediate rabies vaccination booster and two more rabies shots on the third and eighth week and will be isolated for 90 days. With rabies cases there is always the risk that pets will contract the disease and possibly spread it to humans. Fortunately, in these incidents there was no human exposure.

The most important thing that residents can do to protect themselves and their families is to vaccinate their pets annually or every three years for rabies depending on the vaccination schedule set by their veterinarian. It’s not likely that humans would touch a skunk, but our pets, especially outdoor pets, could certainly encounter sickly wildlife.

“When vaccinated, our pets provide a protective barrier between us and the wildlife,” said Animal Control Manager Keane Menefee. “Residents must take action to build a barrier that protects them, their families and their pets.”

Pet owners must always restrain their pets in a secure enclosure. Allowing pets to run loose increases the chances of them coming in contact with a rabid animal.

Residents should also avoid leaving pet food or garbage outside overnight that may attract wildlife. More important, residents should never touch or try to capture a wild animal. Infected animals spread the rabies virus through saliva. If residents see wildlife acting unusual in their neighborhood, they should immediately contact Fort Worth Animal Care and Control at 817-392-3737.

Source: City of Fort Worth

Related stories

• Yet another Fort Worth dog isolated after encountering a skunk with rabies (April 2, 2008)

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