The Princeton Health Department wants to remind residents that rabies infected wildlife continues to pose a risk to people and pets. Rabies is almost always 100 percent fatal once a person or animal begins to show symptoms. Protecting pets by keeping them current on their rabies vaccine is an important buffer between wildlife rabies and human exposure. Indoor animals should also be vaccinated as rabid bats are frequently discovered by pets in the home.

“Princeton had the highest number of animals testing positive for rabies in Mercer County in 2014,” said the town’s health officer Jeffrey Grosser, adding that cats as well as dogs should be vaccinated. “Not only does the vaccine keep your pet safe, but it can help keep you and your family safe as well,” he said.

To protect themselves and their pets, residents should avoid wildlife and animals you do not know, keep pets on a leash, never feed or touch stray animals, teach children to tell you if they are scratched or bitten by an animal, and call the doctor and local health department if bitten or exposed to saliva or blood. Also, contact your veterinarian if your pet was exposed to a bat, raccoon, skunk, or other wild carnivore. Perform a 360-degree “walk-around” of your home, looking for openings in the exterior bats can use as an entry. Openings should be closed only after it is determined no bats are inside the home or the attic.

Dogs and cats are not considered immunized until 28 days after receiving an initial rabies vaccination, so they should not be left outdoors unattended. Every year, 30,000 to 40,000 Americans are potentially exposed to rabies, requiring costly and uncomfortable human rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. For more information, call the Princeton Health Department at (609) 497-7608.