Pet dog kills rabid skunk in N.J. backyard, officials say

A dog in a Camden County backyard killed a skunk that was later confirmed to be rabid by the state Department of Health and Human Services, county officials said Thursday.

The skunk was killed by a resident’s dog in Gloucester Township, officials said. They did not specify exactly when the incident happened.

Gloucester Township’s Animal Control Officer was called to pick up the skunk and arranged for the animal to be sent to the state’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories to be tested for rabies.

On Thursday, the lab confirmed the skunk was rabid, officials said.

The dog that killed the skunk had been vaccinated against rabies, but was given a booster shot and must quarantine for 45 days after being notified about the skunk’s positive test results, officials said.

Thursday’s confirmation is the fourth animal in Gloucester Township to test positive for rabies this year.

Gloucester Township is one of the largest municipalities in Camden County with over 63,000 residents and spanning 23 square miles, according to U.S. Census Data.

Two other rabid skunks were confirmed in Camden City and Collingswood earlier this year, and a cat dropped off at a Voorhees animal shelter was also confirmed to have rabies earlier this year.

County officials warned residents to avoid contact with wild animals and to keep their pets up to date on vaccinations. Residents were also cautioned to seek immediate veterinary attention for pets if scratched or bitten by wild animals.