On Sept. 23, 2014, the Garland Animal Services division received notification of a laboratory confirmed case of rabies in a skunk captured in Garland near Fountain Hills Drive, on Sept. 21, 2014. One dog was known to have been exposed to the rabid skunk and is currently under quarantine. This is the first laboratory confirmed case of rabies in an animal in Garland in 2014.
The rabies virus is relatively rare in North America and is occasionally found in wild or domesticated animals including, but not limited to dogs, coyotes, skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats. Infection of humans can occur if virus-laden saliva from a rabid animal is introduced through a bite, scratch, or mucus membrane (such as the nose). Without treatment, infection is almost always fatal.
To reduce the community’s risk to rabies, citizens should regularly vaccinate their pets against the virus. Animal owners can contact their local veterinarian for questions regarding rabies vaccination. Citizens who witness any domestic or wild animal exhibiting erratic or abnormal behavior, or any potential rabies exposure of a domestic animal or human, should contact Garland Animal Services at 972-205-3570.
