Mapleshade Animal Hospital

10/18/2026

Share the news especially if in contact with any unvaccinated pets in the Gainesville area.

A cat in Virginia “known to socialize” with other cats and people has tested positive for rabies, according to Prince William County police.

Police said in an alert that the cat was found in the 15500 block of Thoroughfare Road in Gainesville.

Other cats that came in contact with the rabid feline have been contained and are being monitored, police said.

Any resident who had contact with the cat is also asked to seek medical attention immediately.

This announcement follows several cases of rabies in the D.C. area.

Over the summer, there were multiple beaver attacks from rabid beavers in Maryland State parks, a rabid bat and raccoon in Anne Arundel County, and a bat and skunk that tested positive in Waldorf. Stray cats and kittens were also flagged in Loudoun County for potential rabies exposure.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued an alert warning that rabies exposures and treatment have surged nationwide.

One cat who lived in Gainesville has tested positive for rabies and four others are being monitored for the disease, according to Prince William County police.

10/14/2026

We used to be able to add photos to the Mapleshade stars album, unable to any more. But….Wanted to share some of our recent stars….

09/28/2026

From the American Veterinary Medical Association: Rabies is an almost invariably fatal disease for animals and humans. AVMA endorses the 2016 Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, developed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians. Vaccination of animals is a critical step in preventing infection and protecting public health.

People were exposed at a petting zoo in North Carolina by petting baby goats.

A rabid cat, bat, raccoons and skunks have been confirmed across four Virginia counties, according to the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District.
The rabid animals were found during the first quarter of 2026 in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison and Orange counties.
They included one bat and one skunk in Culpeper, three raccoons and one skunk in Fauquier, one skunk in Madison and one cat and one skunk in Orange. Officials said no human exposures have been reported.

The health district said rabies is commonly found in Virginia wildlife, particularly raccoons, skunks and bats. Statewide, 117 animals tested positive for rabies during the first quarter of the year.

A person is getting treatment after being exposed to a rabid cat in Chantilly.
The potential exposure happened at vet's clinic in Loudoun County on June 18, according to health department officials.

Be sure your pets Rabies are up to date.

Several rabies exposure incidents have been reported across multiple states, days after the CDC issued a health advisory on rising human rabies exposures and errors in postexposure prophylaxis administration.

09/28/2026

Had to share, they are like the double mint twins. As you know we love the handicapable stories, just look at our two micromanager kitties! Nothing stops them, I doubt nothing will with these two. They look like they are already spayed and ready to go.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1600321405467735&id=100064696715803

09/17/2026

There has been an increase in rabid wild animals. Please be sure your cat or dogs are up to date on their rabies vaccine.

https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00533.html?fbclid=IwRlRTSAUYT7RwZG9mBWZkaWQWUOnM22mI7TTMulbfdh3ReXheyWJMjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHmMJA8KXDaRCmuSmIWbv44d13BuDAJ5QFKAmagAHGnWnfshMh4Sm92HJG6i4_aem_H9ixX0DEGdP1aGfAcmMVeA

Nationwide Increase in Reported Human Rabies Exposures: Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Administrat

09/08/2026

🐾😭❤️Poor baby, finally gets to feel what a family and home is like! 😭🐾❤️

Nyla, a 12-year-old dog, spent over five years at a New Jersey shelter before finally finding a foster home. Height of Hope Senior Dog Rescue, a foster organization, helped Nyla leave the shelter by providing her with a loving home.

09/01/2026

🐾Recall of Northwest dog and cat food, check your labels if you feed this food. 🐾

08/15/2026

https://www.newsweek.com/warning-sign-most-owners-miss-before-dog-attack-12268182

Warning on watching the video. You can still see the still pictures of her trying to protect her dogs from this 70-80 # dog. Very traumatizing for sure. There was no way she could have avoided the situation as the dog was hidden in a car and gave no warning.
Yes the first thing we want to do is to un lodge the other dog’s teeth from your beloved pet, that just sets us up to being bitten. Hand bites are incredibly painful due to the high amount of nerve endings we have.
They say make a loud noise to disrupt the attack, carrying one of those fog horns is not a bad idea, scares the dog and maybe gives you a chance to get away. Carry pepper spray, or if worried you may spray your dog as well, carry citronella spray.

If there truly is a threat from unknown dogs, coyotes or aerial predators look into the coyote vests. They are reasonably priced, several companies out there, made of Kevlar, and have spikes or metal rivets To make it hard to puncture your pet.

The bite force alone could injure your pet but not allowing them to get punctures wounds, infections could save their life. If you are afraid of aerial predators they have long plastic spike things you can add to deter it. Dogs usually go for the jugular, they do have neck protection they could wear. Just a thought to keep in the back of your mind if you do like to go out for long walks. We do see injuries from dogs either from unknown dogs or even a house mate, they are always traumatizing for both the animal and the owner.

"All of a sudden, I saw a flash of yellow fly in front of my face," the owner told Newsweek, recalling the May 15 attack.

08/05/2026

Save this post or print it out as a good reminder.