06/17/2026
🚨RABIES ALERT 🚨
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said that during the first week of June, Polk County Animal Control learned of a cat attacking at least five people and a puppy in the area of Glen Road in north Lakeland.
Repost WFLA
If a rabid stray cat is found near your home, immediately restrict your pets from going outdoors. Because rabies is almost 100% fatal once clinical symptoms appear, prioritize protecting your pets and family by verifying their vaccination status and taking immediate precautions.
Protect Your Household First
1. Isolate your pets: Keep your cats and dogs strictly indoors to avoid potential encounters with the infected cat or wildlife carrying the virus.
2. Do not approach the stray: If you see the stray, do not attempt to capture, feed, or handle it.
3. Contact authorities: Call local animal control immediately so professionals can handle the safe removal of the stray animal.
4. Ensure your pets' rabies vaccination is up to date. If your pet is unvaccinated, schedule an appointment to get your pets vaccinated.
NOTE: It takes 28 days for your pet's initial rabies vaccine to reach full effectiveness and be legally considered protected. If your pet is receiving a booster shot (and their previous vaccine has not expired), they are considered protected immediately.
A cat has tested positive for rabies after it attacked multiple people in Polk County, officials said.
