On July 29, the Town received information from a resident on Tennyson that their dog had come in contact with a sick bat in the back yard. The resident called Prince George’s County Animal Control and reported the incident. Animal Control came to the property and collected the bat. Unfortunately, the bat tested positive for rabies. The dog has been to the veterinarian for a rabies vaccine and is in quarantine for 45 days. This is a terribly unfortunate situation, but it does happen in University Park.
Tips To Prevent Rabies:
- Keep your pet’s rabies shots current
- Walk your pet on a leash, and do not leave your pet outside unattended
- Don’t keep or treat wild animals as pets
- Keep trashcans closed securely and do not leave pet food outside as this can attract wild animals
The most common wild reservoirs of rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Animals with rabies may show a variety of signs, including fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis and seizures. Aggressive behavior is common, but rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate. If you see a wild animal exhibiting any of the signs above, report it to the Prince George’s County Animal Control at 301-780-7200.
If a human has been exposed or bitten by a rabid animal report the incident to the University Park Police Department by dialing 911 and a University Park Police Officer will be dispatched. Prince George’s County also instructs residents to call the Health Department at 301-583-3750 .