Kerr County has first confirmed positive rabies case this year in a bat

Kerr County has posted its first confirmed positive rabies case of the year, as well as a separate “untestable” case that must be treated as positive – both in bats.

Rabies Confirmed

“On Thursday, March 27, our office was advised of a bat that had come into contact with a family pet out on Four Bears Trail, just south of Kerrville,” said Kerr County Animal Services Director Reagan Givens. “We dispatched an animal control officer, who collected the bat and sent it to the zoological lab for testing. We received confirmation the following morning, Friday, March 28, that it was positive for rabies.”

Unfortunately, because the bat had come into contact with the family dog, the owner had to be notified of the protocol to follow.

“According to Texas law, if a cat or dog is bitten or has made contact with an animal known to carry rabies, then that pet should be humanely euthanized,” Givens explained. “But, the law also lays out a plan for pet owners unwilling to do that.”

“If the pet has been previously vaccinated against rabies, then it should be revaccinated immediately and restrained or confined for a period of 45 days. If the at-risk pet is not vaccinated against rabies, then it should get vaccinated immediately and be placed in strict isolation for 90 days, with booster shots given in the third and eighth weeks of isolation,” Givens said.

“Fortunately, in this case, the dog was vaccinated against rabies,” he added. “So, the owner is making sure it gets its revaccination and is isolated.”

“The law may seem drastic, but rabies is a horrible, deadly, viral disease that can spread animal-to-animal and animal-to-human,” Given said. “As the county’s rabies authority, Kerr County Animal Services encourages everyone to make sure their family pets are current on their rabies vaccinations.”

In Kerr County, there is a court order requiring all pet owners to have a dog or cat vaccinated against the disease by the time the animal reaches 4 months of age. The vaccines then must be given at least once every three years. Proof of those vaccinations must be kept in the official certificate furnished by the person giving the inoculation.

The certificate must bear the pet owner’s name, address and telephone number, as well as identifying information about the animal, including species, sex, age, weight, breed and color. Information about the type of vaccine used, as well as the veterinarian’s signature and license number also should be included.

“Keep in mind that rabies can pop up in a city yard just as easily as it appears in the brush in a rural part of the county,” Given said, adding that anyone who sees a wild animal or even stray dogs or cats is asked to refrain from feeding or making close contact with them.

Instead, make a note of the area where the animal is, which direction it might be heading and then contact Kerr County Animal Services by calling 830-257-3100. Those calling after business hours should call the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office at 830-896-1216.

There were 16 total cases of rabies in 2024.

Untestable case

In a separate incident last week, Kerr County Animal Services was advised of a deceased bat at a family residence on Byas Spring Road in Mountain Home in western Kerr County.

The specimen, which was deceased and had been lying by the pets’ beds for several days, was collected by an animal control officer on March 24 and sent to the lab for testing on March 26.

“We received word on Friday that this bat was too decomposed for accurate testing. Texas law is designed so that we all err on the side of caution, so any ‘untestable’ sample must be considered positive for all practical purposes,” Givens said. As such, the pet owners were advised of the proper protocol to follow, he added.