08/31/2026
🐾 RABIES REPORTING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 🦠
Rabies is a serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect both animals and people. The good news? Rabies is preventable, and reporting suspected exposures quickly can help protect our entire community.
🚨 When should you report a possible rabies exposure? Contact your local animal control or public health department if: • A person or pet has been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal. • A pet has had direct contact with a bat, skunk, raccoon, fox, or other potentially rabid animal. • A bat is found inside a home where people or pets may have been exposed. • An animal is acting unusually aggressive, disoriented, paralyzed, or displaying other abnormal behavior. • A domestic animal has been exposed to a suspected rabid animal.
⚠️ If you are bitten or scratched:
Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 15 minutes.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Report the exposure to your local animal control or public health agency.
If it is safe to do so, provide information about the animal involved. Do not attempt to capture or handle a wild or unfamiliar animal yourself.
🐶 Protect your pets! Keeping dogs, cats, and other animals current on their rabies vaccinations is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of rabies.
📞 When in doubt, report it. Prompt reporting allows health and animal-control officials to assess the situation and determine whether additional steps are needed.
Rabies can be deadly—but together, we can help prevent it. Share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors! 🐕🐈🦇
For questions or to report a potential rabies exposure, contact your local animal control or public health department.
