The Herald-Zeitung

Comal County recently reported its second documented case of rabies in 2007, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The incident was the 37th case in Region 8.

A rabid skunk walked into the yard of a home about half a mile east of downtown Bulverde and sprayed the home owner’s chocolate Labrador Retriever on June 21. The owner then shot and transported the skunk to Country Hills Veterinary Clinic for a rabies submission. The dog, which was current on vaccinations, was boostered according to protocol the next day and began a 45-day isolation period, the report said.

This incident followed a rabies case involving a raccoon and another chocolate Labrador Retriever in Bulverde on May 17, according to Zoonosis Control.

Dr. Gary Brotze of Creek View Veterinary Clinic stressed the fact that rabies is always an issue in the area, and instances such as these should not concern residents, as many animals end up testing negative for rabies.

“This is an ongoing problem, but have we seen any domestic animals with rabies in a while? No,” Brotze said.

He said that bats are the primary rabies concern with pets and children. Kids are fascinated with bats and it’s often their first instinct to touch them, he said.

If bats, raccoons or skunks are spotted in the back yard, Brotze said to keep pets away, do not touch the animal, get the potentially rabid animal in a closed container using a shovel and call animal control, Brotze said.