Any resident seeing what appears to be a sick or injured animal should call: Hopewell Township, 737-3100; or West Amwell, 397-1100
By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP — A sick skunk was killed by a dog on a Barry Road property near the Hopewell Township-West Amwell border on April 6.
The skunk was removed by Animal Control and tested positive for rabies. The dog and the other pets on the property are being revaccinated for rabies and quarantined for 90 days.
The health department is asking area residents or pet owners who may have had an encounter with a sick skunk, or any other suspicious-acting animal to notify the department immediately.
The department is concerned about the dangers of rabies exposure to family pets, especially those 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, according to Gary Guarino, township health officer.
Pet owners are reminded:
(1) Do not allow pets to run at large, which can put them at risk of encountering rabid wildlife.
(2) To verify that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are current, all kittens and puppies need to receiver their first rabies vaccine at 3 months of age and then regularly thereafter.
(3) Pets are required to wear collars with ID tags so they are easily identified and not mistaken as feral.
Any resident seeing what appears to be a sick or injured animal should notify the township police departments (numbers below), which will notify animal control officers.
Numbers to call are: Hopewell Township, 737-3100; West Amwell, 397-1100.

