Raccoon tests positive for rabies ends up being strangled by 75-year-old woman

It’s important to vaccinate your pets.

March 11, 2015; 9:08 AM • by Richard Hayes

Update #1 — March 11, 2015; 9:06 AM

“So I threw it to the ground and I strangled it — with both hands. I am a terrific animal lover. It’s the last thing in the world I would have ever wanted to do, but you know self-preservation kicks in, and I guess a primitive part of my brain just went into operation and that was it,” she said Tuesday, recalling the incident.

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Original — March 10, 2015

From Henrico County Police:

On Saturday, March 7, 2014, Henrico Animal Protection Police responded to the 1800 block of Lakeside Avenue for an animal related call for service. The caller informed police that she had been attacked by a raccoon. The victim fought off the raccoon, which later succumbed to its injuries. The raccoon’s remains were submitted to the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services for testing. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries.

On Tuesday, March 10, 2015, positive rabies test results were confirmed. This incident was the first confirmed positive rabies case for 2015.

Henrico Police Animal Protection reminds everyone to be sure to keep their pets’ rabies vaccinations current to ensure the safety of their pets and our community. Please report abnormal wildlife behavior to the Henrico Police Non-Emergency Communications Center at (804) 501-5000.

For more information on rabies, including symptoms and when you should seek medical attention check out this CDC page.

Image: Alan Vernon, flickr creative commons