Two pets bitten by rabid animals in Norwich

Norwich — Police are reminding the public to vaccinate their animals after two pets who were not vaccinated were recently bitten by rabid animals.

Police said that on June 1 it received information from the state Department of Public Health that a skunk tested positive for rabies.

The skunk attacked a pet that was left illegally tethered on a run outside of a home on the west side of Norwich.

Because the pet was not vaccinated, it will have to remain in quarantine at the city pound for 90 days. The pet’s owner could incur fees of $5 per night plus any additional veterinarian bills, police said.

Once the animal is released, the pet must remain under strict home confinement for an additional 90 days.

On June 5, Norwich Animal Control had to put another unvaccinated animal in quarantine after it was bitten by a wild animal. The animal was not found, but it is assumed that it is rabid.

Police said that there is no test for rabies in living domestic animals, and there is no treatment for domestic animals that contract the rabies virus.

Rabies can also be transmitted to humans and can be fatal.