TERRELL, Texas – The Terrell Animal Control Department issued a rabies alert after encountering three suspected rabid skunks in six weeks in southeast Terrell, Texas.
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The most recent skunk was shot and killed by Terrell police officers on Thursday afternoon, April 17, 2014, after it attempted to “attack people” and was “acting very aggressive and behaving very abnormally,” according to a release.
“This is not cause for a panic, but we need our citizens to get their pets vaccinated, including any horses, cows or other livestock kept in the city as a precaution,” said Terrell Police Department Chief Jody L. Lay. “We have contacted the State Zoonosis Division and they emphasized the importance of vaccinating against this disease as the best measure to take at this time.”
The other two suspected rabid skunks were reported three and six weeks ago. The skunk three weeks ago was also shot by police and the third skunk was handled by the Animal Control Department.
In all three incidents, concerned citizens who first observed the skunks acting aggressively called police.
The release advises, “Due to the nature of this disease, all areas of Terrell should be alert to normally shy wild animals behaving abnormally and call police on anything suspicious. Never approach any animal behaving abnormally and certainly not a wild animal. Call police immediately and keep your pets and children away until the situation is dealt with by authorities.”
If a suspicious animal is observed, please call the Terrell Police Department at 972-551-6622 immediately.
“This is not cause for a panic, but we need our citizens to get their pets vaccinated, including any horses, cows or other livestock kept in the city as a precaution,” said Terrell Police Department Chief Jody L. Lay. “We have contacted the State Zoonosis Division and they emphasized the importance of vaccinating against this disease as the best measure to take at this time.”
The other two suspected rabid skunks were reported three and six weeks ago. The skunk three weeks ago was also shot by police and the third skunk was handled by the Animal Control Department.
In all three incidents, concerned citizens who first observed the skunks acting aggressively called police.
The release advises, “Due to the nature of this disease, all areas of Terrell should be alert to normally shy wild animals behaving abnormally and call police on anything suspicious. Never approach any animal behaving abnormally and certainly not a wild animal. Call police immediately and keep your pets and children away until the situation is dealt with by authorities.”
If a suspicious animal is observed, please call the Terrell Police Department at 972-551-6622 immediately.