“Last week, a citizen found a skunk around his dog pens and called Hope Animal Control. Jeff Griffis came out to the residence after the homeowner killed the animal,” Dr. Stroderd said. “He brought the animal to the animal shelter and Gerald Sisson brought it to me and we sent it off to the state health department. We got confirmation this week that it was infected with rabies.

“The fact that the usually nocturnal animal was seen during the day is a huge red flag because that’s an unusual behavior,” he said. “Anytime you see a nocturnal animal during the daytime, be on high alert. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting your pets vaccinated for rabies. The only recognized rabies vaccination in the state of Arkansas is that administered by veterinarians.”

According to the public health veterinarian in charge of rabies cases throughout the state, Dr. Susan Weinstein, “there have been 19 positive cases of rabies in the state so far this year.

“Twelve of those cases have been in Southwest Arkansas, including Clark and Pike counties in the Glenwood/Amity area,” Weinstein said. “Remember to get your animals vaccinated for rabies because that, in turn, protects people. Also remember that March, April, and May is rabies season.”

“I want people to know that it is a city ordinance that dogs that are in the city are vaccinated for rabies and have a city tag. They have to get both from a veterinarian’s office,” Gerald Sisson, animal control officer said. “We encourage all pet owners to get their pets vaccinated for rabies right now.”
For more information, contact a veterinarian or log on to the Arkansas Health Department’s website at healthyarkansas.gov.