Destroyed specimen becomes 7th positive rabies case

Kerr County has reported its seventh case of rabies for the year.

On Tuesday, July 21, Kerr County Animal Control was notified by a family that there was a deceased skunk in their yard occupied by family pets, and an animal control officer was dispatched to the house in the 1700 block of Ranchero Road in Kerrville to collect the specimen, said KCAC Director Reagan Givens.

The zoological lab that does the testing deemed the specimen “DESTROYED”, according to results received by the county on Thursday, July 23, Givens said.

“Because the family’s dogs had killed the skunk, the specimen was considered too destroyed for accurate testing,” he added. “Under Texas law, which is intended to side with caution, the case has to be considered a ‘positive’ on our records.”

Authorities notified the family about the proper protocol to follow for the dogs after they were exposed, and that normally involves booster shots and isolation if they were current on their rabies shots.

"Especially with so many things happening in our area right now with this second flood disaster, you never know when or where you or your pets will encounter a wild animal carrying this fatal viral disease that specifically targets the central nervous system,” Givens said.

“Please make sure your family’s pets are up to date on all their vaccinations, including the one for rabies. Also, never try to pet, touch or even feed a wild animal – that includes stray cats and dogs,” he added.

Anyone who spots an animal acting abnormally is asked to make a note of its physical appearance, behavior, exact location and which direction it may be headed, and call that information in immediately to Kerr County Animal Control at 830-257-3100 or, if the sighting is after normal business hours, to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office at 830-896-1216.

The most recent case of rabies in the county to this one was also in a skunk in the Mountain Home area on June 10.

The other five cases recorded this year are:

·        1st case – March 15, a raccoon, 500 block of East Lane in Kerrville

·        2nd case – March 21, a bat, 100 block of JJ Lane in Center Point

·        3rd case – April 4, a bat, 100 block of Misty Lane in Kerrville

·        4th case – May 19, a skunk, 7100 block of TX27 in Comfort

·        5th case – May 19, a skunk, 190 block of Crooked Creek Pass in Mountain Home