A quiet Cherry Hill backyard turned into a rabies scare this past Friday when a skunk attacked two dogs and later tested positive for the virus, county health officials said. The confirmed case led to quarantine orders for the pets and a public-health advisory for anyone who may have handled the animal.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the dogs and the skunk struggled during the encounter on Friday before residents managed to trap the animal. They brought the skunk to a wildlife rescue group, which then arranged for rabies testing at the state laboratory. The Camden County Department of Health and Human Services was alerted after the New Jersey Public Health & Environmental Laboratories confirmed the positive result, NBC10 reported.
County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher stressed the stakes of the situation, telling residents that “Rabies is a serious illness, but it can be prevented by early treatment after exposure,” according to Patch. Patch also reported that two people may have been exposed to the skunk and were advised to speak with their physicians about post-exposure prophylaxis.
Officials told NBC10 Philadelphia that the dog owners supplied proof that both pets were vaccinated against rabies, and the animals will now be confined and observed for four months. Health officials are urging anyone who touched or handled the skunk to consult their doctor about post-exposure prophylaxis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains when PEP is recommended and how the treatment works, while the state’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories detail the testing protocols used to confirm rabies in New Jersey animals.
Local Pattern and Pet Precautions
Local coverage shows this is not a one-off scare. A report from May 2025 in Patch described another skunk in Cherry Hill that tested positive for rabies and led to a dog’s confinement. That pattern is why officials repeatedly remind residents to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations, supervise animals when they are outside, and avoid handling wild creatures themselves.
Residents with questions about the latest case or rabies prevention can contact the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370. The CDC’s rabies pages offer additional guidance on symptoms, prevention, and what to do after a potential exposure. If you encounter a wild animal acting strangely or aggressively, officials say you should call your local animal control so trained personnel can handle it and, if needed, submit it for testing.
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