Rockville City Police are urging neighbors to keep a close eye on their pets after a fox believed to be rabid attacked a man and his dog in the Potomac Woods area, then went after another dog in nearby Horizon Hills. Officers say the animal showed unusually aggressive behavior, and crews are canvassing both neighborhoods to track it down and remove it before anyone else gets hurt.
As reported by The MoCo Show, the department is telling residents to supervise pets closely, steer clear of foxes or other wildlife that seem disoriented or oddly bold, and call Rockville police at 240-314-8900 to report any aggressive animals. The outlet notes that the back-to-back incidents in Potomac Woods and Horizon Hills prompted the city’s advisory to people living in and around those communities.
City guidance and local contacts
The City of Rockville advises residents to keep pets leashed, secure trash that might attract wildlife, and never feed wild animals. The city also outlines how to report wildlife that seem sick or unusually aggressive. For nonemergency animal issues, officials direct callers to Rockville police dispatch at 240-314-8900 or to neighborhood services during regular business hours.
Why rabies is serious
Rabies is a viral disease that is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, and it can spread through the saliva of infected mammals such as foxes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that thorough wound washing and rapid medical evaluation are critical, since post-exposure prophylaxis can prevent infection when treatment begins quickly.
What to do if you or your pet were exposed
If you or your pet had any contact with a fox, officials urge you to immediately wash wounds with soap and water and seek prompt medical care. Residents should contact Rockville police at 240-314-8900 and call the Montgomery County Office of Animal Services at 240-773-5900 for guidance on testing, quarantine requirements, and pet vaccination clinics.
City crews and animal control officers are asking residents to report aggressive wildlife sightings so the fox can be captured and tested. Officials say the most effective protection, while they investigate the incidents and search the area, is to keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations and avoid any direct contact with wildlife.
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