[ad_1]
SOUTHBURY – Animal control officials are warning residents to be careful after two people and their dog were attacked by a bobcat this month.
Southbury Animal Control said the attack – which authorities described as a “rare and isolated incident” – occurred on January 4 in the town’s shopping area.
Officials said the dog was up to date on her rabies vaccinations. She was placed in strict detention for 45 days and is expected to recover. Officials said if the bitch had not been vaccinated against rabies, she could have been quarantined for six months or subjected to compulsory euthanasia.
“It is a reminder of the importance of vaccinations for pets,” officials said.
Dog owners have started their vaccine series.
The bobcat, who died, tested positive for rabies after the attack.
Some common symptoms of rabies include unprovoked aggression, difficulty walking and excessive salivation, officials said.
“Although this is a rare and isolated incident, it is important for residents to be aware of it,” officials said.
Animal control officials have urged owners to make sure their pets are up to date on their vaccinations and to monitor them when they are outside.
There have been a few bobcat encounters involving Connecticut residents and pets over the years.
Last summer, a bobcat attacked a family’s dog in Preston, then entered their home, according to Fox61. When they could not get the bobcat out of the house, the authorities euthanized the animal. Bobcat tested positive for rabies, according to Day of New London
In December 2019, a 12-year-old boy from Fairfield was in the backyard of his home when he was attacked by what was believed to be a bobcat. The animal fled into the woods after the boy suffered a slight scratch on his finger and a torn shirt, police said at the time.
In April 2019, a golfer at Mohegan Sun Golf Course was injured by a bobcat. Officials said the bobcat also attacked a horse. The animal was euthanized and tested positive for rabies.
For more details on bobcats in Connecticut, visit the DEEP bobcat webpage.
[ad_2]
Source link