Rabies Found In Cumberland County Raccoon, Here’s How To Protect Your Pets
A raccoon recently caught by the Cumberland County Animal Services tested positive for rabies, which puts many local animals at risk of catching it too. Fortunately, you can protect your pet with $5 1-year vaccinations.
As the parent of an adventurous and incredibly curious tabby cat, I know how worrying things like that can be for pet owners. If you live in the area and have a furry friend, here’s how you can ensure their safety from the horrible disease.
Cumberland County Raccoon Found With Rabies
According to this news release on the Cumberland County government website, Animal Services were called to Withers Drive in Fayetteville last weekend when a resident reported that their dog was fighting with a raccoon. The dog managed to kill the raccoon and Animal Services sent its body to the NC State Public Health Lab in Raleigh for testing.
The tests confirmed that the raccoon was indeed rabid. Fortunately, no people were reported to have come in contact with the raccoon, and the dog that killed it was up to date on its vaccinations and wasn’t hurt in the fight.
How To Protect Your Pets From Rabies
The county government is urging all pet owners in the community to check the rabies vaccination status of all their pets. If your fur baby is not vaccinated or is due for a booster, now is the time to do so.
According to Cumberland County Animal Services, “Pet owners can bring their pet to Animal Services Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and get a 1-year rabies vaccination for $5. Animal Services is located at 4704 Corporation Dr., Fayetteville.”
How Dangerous Is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral and fatal disease that devastates the central nervous system. Failure to immediately treat those exposed to rabies face the risk of severe brain disease or even death. Rabies is primarily spread through bites and scratches from infected animals, and humans are at just as much risk of catching it as their pets when exposed to it.
The District of Columbia Department of Health lists some symptoms of rabies in humans, including fever, headache, increased anxiety and confusion, hallucinations, delirium, and insomnia. Signs of rabies-infected animals include fearfulness, increased or decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and extremely aggressive behavior.
In addition to vaccinating your pets, the CDC also recommends that certain people groups who are at increased risk of rabies exposure consider pre-exposure vaccination. Frequent travelers, people who spend a lot of time outdoors, and those who work with animals are among those encouraged to take extra preventative measures to prevent exposure to rabies.
