Raccoon that encountered pair of dogs in Lockport was rabid

Tests have confirmed that a raccoon was rabid when two dogs encountered it Wednesday in a fenced back yard in Lockport, the Niagara County Department of Health reported.

The animal was found to be rabid after it was sent for testing in the Griffon Laboratory at the State Health Department's Wadsworth Center.

The report noted that the dogs had been vaccinated against the disease and the owner will arrange booster shots for them.

According to the report, this is the first rabid raccoon seen in Niagara County this year. The county confirmed four cases of rabies in bats in 2023, the report added.

County health officials warned that raccoons, bats, skunks and fox are common carriers of the rabies virus and that residents should avoid them, along with stray dogs and feral cats. They further advised that pet owners keep their dogs and cats up to date on rabies vaccinations.