Fox Attacks Resident And Pets In Fort Hunt: Police

FORT HUNT, VA—Police are attempting to locate a fox that attacked a man, dog and cat in Fort Hunt Thursday night.

Around 9:09 p.m., a man reported he had been bitten by the fox in the 2300 block of William and Mary Drive. Afterward, police found the fox had bitten and injured a cat underneath a car.

As police were investigating, another resident reported a fox attack not far away in the 2200 block. The man reported his dog was getting in a fight with the fox. The fox bit the dog and attempted to bite the resident without success. The fox did steal the man's shoe as he was attempting to kick the fox off his dog.

The fox fled and has not been located after police searches Thursday night and Friday morning. Police do not know if fox has rabies, but acts of aggression like those attacks are usually signs of rabies. The dog was quarantined due to potential rabies infection.

Police urge residents to keep pets vaccinated, watch pets when they're outside and take steps to seal your home so wild animals cannot enter. Rabies can infect both animals and people. People get rabies usually when bitten and infected with the saliva of a rabid animal. When bitten, you should clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water to lessen the chance of infection.

The initial symptoms for humans are weakness, discomfort, fever, or headache. For animals, these symptoms could range from lethargy to fever, vomiting, and anorexia. The Center for Disease Control recommends quarantining pets exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated pets are either euthanized or strictly quarantined for six months and vaccinated one month before being released.

Fairfax County residents should immediately report animal bites and sick or injured animals to Animal Protection Police at 703-691-2131.

Image not of the actual fox, via Fairfax County Police