The city of Allentown’s Bureau of Health and Animal Control Officer are reminding pet owners to keep their animals up to date on rabies vaccinations.

A skunk tested positive for rabies this week after being captured in a resident’s kitchen in the vicinity of Fourth & Allen streets. Residents had left the door ajar for access for their two dogs when the skunk apparently wandered inside. The skunk came in contact with the dogs, neither of which was vaccinated against rabies. The dogs are now under six month quarantine per PA Department of Agriculture protocols.

Animal Control advises feeding all pets inside, cleaning-up under bird feeders, covering trash and recycling cans and filling-in any holes around sheds to prevent den sites.

Residents are also advised not to entice any strange or wild animals to come near them. Residents should refrain from petting, touching or feeding stray or wild animals. Parents should supervise young children when outdoors and reinforce with older children not to pet strays.

If you have come into contact with a stray animal and have been bitten or scratched you should seek medical attention immediately. Rabies is an almost always fatal disease.

--30--