The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Piedmont Health District confirmed that a groundhog tested positive for rabies last week at the northeastern part of Buckingham County.

VDH Environmental Health Manager Ed Dunn confirmed the incident Monday, citing that two dogs and three people were exposed to the groundhog.

He said the three individuals are receiving post-exposure prophylaxis and the dogs received rabies vaccine boosters. The dogs, per state regulations, will be isolated for 45 days.

Dunn said while rabies in wild animal populations are not uncommon, it had been a while since a groundhog tested positive for rabies in the region.

In a recent news release, the Buckingham County Animal Control and Health Departments are urging all pet owners to have their pets vaccinated for rabies.

“During the summer, we spend more time outdoors and are more likely to have contact with animals, both wild and domestic,” a release from the departments cited. “This also means we are at an increased risk of exposure to rabies. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be transmitted from infected wildlife to domestic animals and people. Wild animals in Virginia are at high risk of being rabid include bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks; however, any mammal can get rabies.”

When a concern about possible rabies exposure to a person or domestic animal surfaces, the local Health Department investigates to determine whether the risk of rabies warrants post-exposure vaccination or other control measures, the release cited.

Animal Control and the Health Department investigate a large number of bite reports involving unvaccinated dogs; and numerous reports of unvaccinated dogs or cats that have had contact with high-risk wild animals.

“Vaccinating your pets against rabies establishes a barrier between wildlife and people; failure to do so weakens this barrier and increases the risk of exposure,” the release cited. “Vaccinating your pet means that you are protecting yourself, your family, neighbors, groomers, veterinary staff, delivery persons and anyone else who comes in contact with your pet from the possibility of rabies.”

Rabies vaccinations are important for both indoor and outdoor pets, according to the release. Below are the top five reasons to vaccinate your pets for rabies and to keep them up to date:

If an unvaccinated dog, cat, or ferret has contact with an animal presumed to have rabies, Animal Control and the Health Department have the right to quarantine the pet in strict isolation with no contact to humans or other animals for up to six months.

If an unvaccinated pet bites a human or another animal, the pet will need to be confined and observed for 10 days. If the pet shows any signs of rabies, the pet must be euthanized and be tested for rabies. This test can only be performed post-mortem because it requires samples of brain tissue.

A rabies infected animal could come into your home unwanted. Bats are the most common cause of rabies in the United States. They can get into the house through windows, screens, chimneys, etc. Because of the significant health threat, the Health Department takes any reports of bats in the home seriously.

An indoor pet could escape from home some time during their life. If so, the pet could come in contact with a rabid animal (bat, raccoon, skunk, fox or other animals).

Last, but not least, rabies vaccinations are required by law in the state of Virginia for all dogs, cats, and ferrets over four months old.

A rabies vaccination is necessary for all pets and the consequences of not having pets vaccinated are not worth the risks, according to the release. Have your pets vaccinated and keep them current.

To learn more, contact Buckingham Animal Control at (434) 983-9318 or the Buckingham Health Department at (434) 969-4244.