An animal care officer responded to a call at the Lake Wichita dog park on Wednesday and found a dog had killed a skunk, officials said.
A press release from the city said the skunk tested positive for rabies.
The city said the dog is in isolation at home as allowed by state law.
The release said any exposure to wild animals, alive or dead should be avoided. This is especially true for bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes, which are the top five carriers of the virus in Texas.
Children and pets should be closely monitored while outdoors to ensure they do not come into contact with or touch wild animals, the release advised.
Animal Services urges anyone who observes a wild or domestic animal displaying signs of illness,fearlessness, aggression or other unusual behaviors, such as nocturnal animals out during the day,to contact Animal Services immediately at 940-761-7824.
Rabies is 100 percent preventable by following a few important guidelines:
- Ensure all pets — dogs, cats, and ferrets — are current on their rabies vaccinations as required by Texas state law. Livestock owners are also encouraged to vaccinate horses and other livestock.
- Do not allow pets to roam freely.
- Stay away from all wild animals and unknown dogs and cats.
- Avoid wild animals even if they appear friendly.
- Never coax a wild animal to eat from your hand.
- If you encounter a bat, do not handle it. Bats have extremely small teeth, and you may not realize that you have been bitten.
- Do not feed or water pets outside. Even empty bowls can attract wild and stray animals.
- If you are feeding feral cats, do so early in the day and do not leave food out overnight as this will attract wild animals.
- Keep garbage securely covered. Open garbage attracts wild or stray animals.
- Wild animals should not be kept as pets.
- Enjoy all wild animals from a distance and teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals even if they appear friendly.
Anyone who has been bitten or scratched and broken the skin should contact a medical professional for immediate assistance and contact Animal Services Center at 940-761-7824.
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