How Can You Help Prevent Rabies?

  • Avoid wild animals, especially bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons.
  • Do not feed stray animals.
  • Teach your children to avoid wildlife, strays, and all other animals they do not know. Ask permission before they pet someone's dog or cat.
  • Do not handle sick or injured wild animals. If you need to remove a dead animal from your property, be sure to use gloves.
  • Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies and that their shots are up to date. By law, all dogs, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies.
  • Feed pets indoors and keep them indoors at night. If they are outside during the day, keep them on a leash or fenced in so they can not wander. It is possible for vaccinated pets to get rabies. Pets allowed to roam freely are more likely to get rabies and possibly expose people and other pets in your home.
  • Fasten trash can lids tightly. Garbage attracts animals like skunks, raccoons, and strays. They are always looking for an easy meal.
  • It is against state law to keep wild animals as pets. There are no rabies vaccines for most wild animal species.
  • Cap your chimney with screens and block openings in attics, cellars, and porches to keep wild animals like bats and raccoons out of your home.