Letter Regarding Rabies
by Jana Pitcock
January 17, 2012
To whom it may concern:
Recently, a skunk was killed in Bovina, Texas and sent off to a lab for testing. The results showed that the skunk tested positive for Rabies. The City of Bovina is now taking extra precautions and increasing awareness among citizens regarding the new findings. Bovina Animal Control has set traps in various locations in an attempt to capture stray animals and conduct further testing for Rabies.
We ask that you take extra steps to protect your pets from being infected with rabies. If you keep your pet’s food and water outside, the best action to take would be to move them inside. This prevents any stray animals from coming into contact with your pet’s food and water. We ask that you do not feed any stray animals to minimize the risk of being scratched, bitten, or licked by a rabid animal. These extra precautions are necessary since some animal can be carriers of rabies and not exhibit any signs of the infection.
Some signs to watch for in dogs and cats are problems eating or drinking, abnormal behavior including excessive aggression towards other people or animals, or any apparent lack of coordination. Skunks are not usually seen in the daytime, so any daytime appearances can also be signs of a rabies infection. Even if a skunk is seen it night, take caution and contact animal control immediately. You can reach Animal Control at anytime at 806-251-1212. Also contact a veterinarian if you suspect that you or a pet has been exposed to rabies. We ask that anyone who sees a wild animal or pet behaving strangely or aggressively, or otherwise abnormally, contact us immediately.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Bovina Animal Control
