rabies

Pet and livestock owners are being reminded about the importance of vaccinations after a rabid bat was found in Rock Springs for the first time since 2007. That's according to a release from the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's spokesman Jason Mower says the bat was found in the yard of a home in North Rock Springs...

Last year, there were 14 confirmed cases of animal rabies across the state, including five in bats. This year there have been three confirmed cases in Sheridan.

On October 5 at around 2:00 pm, a woman was bitten by a medium-sized mixed-breed dog with black, brown, and white fur in the 1900 block of VanBuren Street. The dog was unleashed, appeared uncollared and no owners seemed to be in the area...

On the evening of October 10, a man reported being bitten by a medium to a large black dog on the stairs of the Motel 6 on East Plaza Lane. The man also reported that there was a man accompanying the dog and that he was a male in his mid to late 20s and wearing glasses...

Rabies is a highly contagious viral infection that can be fatal to humans as well as other mammals.

People are being warned to make sure their pets are vaccinated against rabies and to avoid suspicious-looking animals, especially bats that are on the ground.

She stresses that the City of Riverton requires a current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian as well as a city dog license.