Rabies case reported in Ponkapoag neighborhood

By Jay Turner

Town officials are reminding residents to keep a close eye on their pets and report any wild animals exhibiting strange behavior after a recent confirmed case of rabies in the Ponkapoag neighborhood.

The diseased animal, a raccoon, reportedly attacked a dog on Greenbriar Road during the daytime hours on Tuesday, January 12. Canton Animal Control Officer Stacy Nee said the raccoon suffered fatal injuries during the altercation and was subsequently sent to the State Laboratory Institute, which confirmed the diagnosis.

Rabies, according to Mass Wildlife, is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals. It is spread through a bite or scratch from an infected animal, and if left untreated it is always fatal.

Nee said rabies is present in local wildlife but confirmed cases are relatively rare. “We have averaged about one confirmed rabid animal a year over the past few years in Canton,” she said. “But if you see an animal behaving in an unusual fashion, we want to go and take a peek.”

In this particular case, the raccoon was not only out in the daytime, but it was aggressive toward the dog — a common indicator of rabies.

The dog’s owner, Larry Ransford, said the attack was unprovoked and happened when the dog was in their fenced-in back yard. He said his daughter, who had just gotten home from school, heard the altercation and was able to separate the two animals with a stick.

Ransford said the dog, which was fortunately unharmed, was given a rabies booster and is currently under a 45-day quarantine, per the state rabies protocol. Ransford, his wife, and his daughter also received a series of rabies vaccinations as a precaution.

Ransford said he understands that rabid animals cannot always be avoided; however, he suspects that raccoons and other wildlife are attracted to the dumpsters at the Ponkapoag Civic Association, which abuts his property. He said his family does carefully monitor their dog, yet the backyard fence was apparently not protection enough in this instance.

“They’re supposed to be safe in our own backyard,” Ransford said.

Canton Health Director John Ciccotelli said he has looked into the Ransfords’ concerns about the dumpsters but does not consider them a nuisance or a contributing factor in the rabies case. He characterized it as an isolated, albeit unfortunate incident.

Ciccotelli said a strain of raccoon rabies has become “endemic in wildlife” in Massachusetts since the mid 1990s and urged residents to be vigilant and keep their distance from all wild animals.

“Be careful of wild animals, particularly if they are acting strangely,” he said. “I’ve seen them attack trees, fences, definitely anything that moves, dogs, people and so forth.”

He added that some rabid animals are not aggressive but instead may appear disoriented or sometimes overly friendly, which are also telltale signs.

As for preventative measures, Ciccotelli said the “best thing people can do is to make sure their pets are brought in at night and also to not leave food outside.”

ACO Nee added that residents should not hesitate to call Animal Control or the Canton Police Department after hours if they suspect an animal may have rabies.

“We’re available 24/7 — our officers are always on call,” she said.

Canton Animal Control can be reached at 781-575-6507. For more information on rabies, including a list of precautions, visit www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/fish-wildlife-plants/rabies.html.

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