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| source : patch.com |
Last week in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a raccoon attacked a local resident’s dog, and it tested positive for rabies.
Yep. That’s not just an urban myth. It’s real, and it happened around Townsend Street and Throop Avenue, according to the Middlesex County Office of Health Services.
If you’re like me, you probably picture raccoons as mischievous trash pandas rifling through last night’s leftovers. But when one gets infected with rabies, it stops being cute and becomes a legitimate public health concern.
What Actually Happened?
On May 29, a resident called animal control after their dog got into it with a sick-looking raccoon. The raccoon was later tested, and came back positive for rabies.
Thankfully, no people were bitten or scratched. The dog’s owner was told to check in with both their doctor and veterinarian about possible exposure risks.
This marks the third rabid animal in Middlesex County in 2025 and the first confirmed case in New Brunswick.
Rabies 101 (For Anyone Who Hasn’t Thought About It Since a 90s PSA)
Let me break this down because I realized how much I didn’t know about rabies until I looked into it:
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Rabies is a virus that attacks the nervous system.
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It spreads primarily through saliva, usually after a bite or scratch.
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It’s not airborne and can’t spread unless the skin is broken.
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Once symptoms start? It’s almost always fatal, but it's 100% preventable with prompt medical care.
So yes, it’s serious. But yes, it’s also avoidable.
What to Watch For (Because Rabid Animals Don’t Always Look Like Movie Monsters)
Here’s the tricky part: rabid animals don’t always foam at the mouth and charge at you.
Health officials in New Jersey say they can also appear:
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Lethargic
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Disoriented
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Paralyzed
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Or just acting… off. Even friendly.
So, if you see wildlife that seems oddly calm or strangely aggressive, don’t approach it. Call animal control or local police instead.
Protect Your Pets (and Yourself)
Here’s what experts recommend, and what I’m personally doing after reading this:
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Vaccinate your pets
Dogs, cats, and even some livestock can get rabies. Keep their shots updated, it’s the law in many states and your first line of defense. -
Secure your garbage cans
Raccoons love a buffet. Don’t make your yard one. -
Bring pet food indoors
Leaving kibble or water outside is an open invitation to wildlife. -
Clean up standing water
That old flowerpot collecting rainwater? Time to dump it. -
Keep your yard tidy
Less hiding space means fewer surprise encounters.
A Quick Look at New Jersey’s Rabies Stats
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, raccoons are the state’s top rabies offenders, followed by:
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Skunks
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Stray cats
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Foxes
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Groundhogs
They’ve even had cases in deer, horses, rabbits, goats, and yes, dogs.
As of March 31, New Jersey had reported 18 confirmed cases in animals this year. Thirteen of those were raccoons.
So it’s not exactly common, but it’s also not rare, and if you live in the Garden State, you might want to be extra alert this summer.
Final Thoughts (and Why This Story Stuck With Me)
I didn’t grow up in the woods. I’m more familiar with subway rats than wild raccoons. But this story reminded me how even in suburban or urban settings, nature still finds a way into our lives, and sometimes, it brings risks with it.
If your pet has never been vaccinated, or you’re not sure what to do after an animal encounter, don’t wait. Call your vet. Call your doctor. Rabies isn’t a wait-and-see kind of disease.
And next time you see a raccoon acting weird in the neighborhood? Just back away slowly… and make sure your garbage lid is on tight.