Rabid Raccoon Found In Monmouth County

A raccoon found in Middletown has tested positive for rabies, making it the fourth wild animal found in recent months with the disease, officials said.

The raccoon may have had contact with two dogs on Sept. 24, in the area of Rutledge Drive and Brook Road, according to an alert from the township issued this week.

That contact prompted the testing, and the Middletown Township Health Department has now received confirmation that the animal had rabies.

Both dogs were licensed and had up-to-date rabies vaccinations, authorities said.

Here’s a list of the other recent positive rabies cases in town:

August: a raccoon found in a wooded area between Taylor Lane and Cherry Tree Lane

August: a fox found in the area of Brookline Court and Rolling Knolls Drive

July: a raccoon found in the area of Millbrook Drive in the New Monmouth section of town

The local health department is offering free rabies vaccinations for dogs on Oct. 17.

For more information, call Animal Control at 732-615-2097.

Patch file photo