Pet and livestock owners cautioned about rabies

The Colorado Department of Agriculture and Tri-County Health Department have confirmed that an alpaca in Douglas County has died due to a rabies infection. Pet owners are urged to check records to ensure rabies vaccinations are up-to-date. Livestock can also be infected with rabies and owners are encouraged to discuss the risk of rabies exposure with their local veterinarian.

“Rabies can spread from wild animals such as skunks, bats, raccoons and foxes to other mammals. There has been evidence of rabid skunks in the Denver metropolitan area since January. Rabies is a deadly disease and vaccination is the single best method to protect your pets and livestock. People can get rabies if an animal in their home or on their property gets sick from being bitten by a rabid animal,” said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department.