STATE OF CONNECTICUT Department of Public Safety 1111 Country Club Road Middletown, Connecticut 06457	Contact:  860-685-8230 pio.dps@po.state.ct.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8/17/10                             RABID RACCOONS PROSPECT

Two separate incidents involving raccoons attacking a person and a dog occurred in Prospect. In one incident a resident was attacked by a raccoon that came out of the hedges without any provocation, and bit the victim.  The victim was hospitalized for the injuries. The raccoon tested positive for rabies. 

The second attack involved a dog tied in its yard.  A raccoon came out in the daytime and attacked the dog, the dog sustained injuries and the raccoon fled the scene. 

Prospect residents are being advised to keep a watch out for raccoons or skunks which were out in the daylight. Residents should advise children if they play outside in yards and see a raccoon or other wildlife animals to go inside the house immediately.

All dogs and cats must be vaccinated as required by law. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PETS VACCINATED FOR RABIES BEFORE THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A POSSIBLE RABID RACOON OR OTHER ANIMAL. A PET WHO HAS EITHER NEVER HAD, OR ALLOWED THE TIME TO LAPSE ON THEIR RABIES VACCINATIONS ,CANNOT BE GIVEN A RABIES VACCINATION AFTER BEING IN CONTACT WITH  A SUSPECTED RABID ANIMAL. (SALIVA OR OTHER FLUIDS FROM A SUSPECTED RABID ANIMAL CAN CAUSE RABIES, NOT ONLY BY A BITE)

If a pet does have contact with a suspected rabid animal DO NOT let the pet have contact with other pets or humans. Contact your local animal control/ police department immediately. If a person is exposed by contact with a suspected rabid animal, or a pet that has had contact with one, they must seek medical attention and undergo a series of anti rabies injections.

If a dog or cat has contact with a suspected rabid animal, and the pet is not up to date on its rabies vaccination, there are two solutions.

1. The pet is placed in a state licensed quarantine facility for SIX MONTHS, at the pet owner’s expense. (Minimum rates are $15.00 per day X 180 days equals a cost of about $ 2,700.00.)

2, The pet is euthanized by the veterinarian.  ( Loss of pet)

If your pet is up to date on its rabies vaccination, and there is contact with a suspected rabid animal, take your pet to your veterinarian and it will have to get a rabies booster injection. It will still have to be quarantined, but at the pet owner’s residence. 

            To insure your pet is protected from rabies, and for protection of family members who come into contact with the pet after an incident with a suspected rabid animal, pet owners are again reminded that in addition to rabies vaccination for pets being the law, it is for your family and your pet’s well being to have your pet receive rabies vaccinations, and to keep them up to date, which is set by your veterinarian. This notice is to heighten the public’s awareness to a potentially serious situation, and hopefully to avoid any injuries to humans and their pets.