Found in Brandon Road area near Lawrence
Hopewell Township Health Department
A sick raccoon found wandering in the Brandon Road area of Brandon Farms on Oct. 9 was captured by Hopewell Township’s animal control personnel and tested positive for rabies.
The health department is asking any resident or pet owner in the area who may have had an encounter with any sick raccoon, or other suspicious-acting animal, to notify the department immediately.
The department is concerned about the dangers of rabies exposure to family pets that are permitted outdoors.
”Rabies is a frightening fatal illness that is highly infectious, even during the six-month period when the animal shows no symptoms at all. In New Jersey, cats are the most common domestic animal to become infected, and cats pose the greatest risk of spreading the disease to people,” an official said today.
Pet owners are reminded:
— Do not allow pets to run at large, which can put them at risk of encountering rabid wildlife,.
— To verify that pet’s rabies vaccination are current, all kittens and puppies need to receiver their first rabies vaccine at 3 months of age and then regularly thereafter.
— Pets are required to wear collars with ID tags so they are easily identified and not mistaken as feral.
Any resident seeing what appears as a sick or injured animal should notify the police, who will notify the animal control officers. Police department numbers are: Hopewell Township, 737-3100; Lawrence Township, 896-1111.
A free rabies clinic will be held on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m.-noon in Hopewell Township Public Works Building, 203 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road (Route 546).

