Raccoon That Attacked Dog In Haddon Heights Tests Positive For Rabies: Officials

HADDON HEIGHTS, NJ — A dog belonging to a Haddon Heights homeowner is under observation after it was exposed to a raccoon that has tested positive for rabies, the Camden County Health Department said Thursday morning. The dog was exposed to the raccoon on Monday, Sept. 25, while in the backyard of the home. After the encounter, the raccoon was picked up and submitted for testing by the Haddon Heights Animal Control Officer.

The animal was tested for rabies at the state Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton (PHEL). On Wednesday, the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) notified the county that the raccoon had tested positive for rabies. The homeowner is currently cooperating with the DHSS on the treatment and observation of their dog. The name and address of the homeowner involved in the incident was not released.

“Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department, said. “If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.”

Rodriguez urged county residents to observe a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as a pet owner:

1. Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.
2. Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
3. Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Rodriguez said it’s also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

1. Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
2. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
3. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
4. Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
5. When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.

To learn more about rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ or call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.

Patch file photo