LAKELAND, Fla. — Polk County's first rabies case of 2020 has been confirmed Tuesday after a dog got in a fight with a raccoon.
PCSO Animal Control said they went to North Galloway Road in Lakeland on Sunday, Jan. 26, after the owner of an Alaskan husky mix was forced to separate their dog from a raccoon it got into a fight with.
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After arriving, Animal Control collected the dead raccoon and sent it to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested. Two days later, it was confirmed positive for rabies.
“If you see a wild animal in distress, or if one of your pets interacts with a wild animal, contact Polk County Animal Control immediately,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
Officials said the dog is up to date on its rabies vaccine and is under a 45-day quarantine at home.
In 2019, there were 11 confirmed cases in Polk County, which included five bats and six raccoons.
