A fox that tried to attack a Warren County resident this week and went on to attack a dog tested positive for rabies.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, a gray fox tried to attack a person in Pleasant Township. The person was not bitten. The fox then moved on and attacked a dog, according to the department’s press office.

The fox was killed and sent for testing on Sunday, March 14. On Tuesday, the test came back positive for rabies.

The dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, according to the department.

Still, the department reacts with caution in rabies cases.

“There is a 45-day at-home observation period” for animals that are up-to-date on their shots, according to Department of Agriculture Veterinary Medical Field Officer Dr. Heather Palm.

For animals that are not vaccinated, the quarantine period is much longer – four to six months — and, while it is still in-home, it is overseen by the department, Palm said.

“Any time your pet is exposed to a wild animal, we have to think about rabies,” Palm said.

She suggested that residents who are concerned about potential contacts call their veterinarian.

A rabies booster shot could be in order as a precaution. Contact information for Palm, who covers a 10-county region in the northwestern part of the state, and other Veterinary Medical Field Officers can also be found by visiting the Department of Agriculture’s website.

A human exposure is a serious thing and should be washed immediately with soap and water, immediately followed by a call to a health care provider.

Animals that are acting in ways they normally would not — for instance, a nocturnal animal that is out in the day — are particularly suspicious. Animals that are suspected of having rabies should not be approached. If they are killed, they can be sent for testing. There is no way to test a living animal.

“The only test for rabies is postmortem,” Palm said.

Once an animal is sent for testing, results are returned quickly — often within 24 hours, she said.

According to the department, there was only one confirmed case of rabies in the county in 2020 — a raccoon.

Raccoons were by far the most common animals found to be rabid in the state in 2020 — with 147 cases. Next highest were cats (58) and bats (55). Foxes were fourth on the list with 34 – about one-tenth of the total number of cases.