SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio health officials are urging residents to vaccinate their pets and report wildlife encounters after a dog tested positive for rabies following an encounter with a skunk on the city’s far west side.
The Metro Health Laboratory confirmed the dog had rabies on Aug. 18, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services and Metro Health. The male Husky mix lived inside Loop 1604 and killed a baby skunk in late July, but the owner did not report the encounter.
The dog later developed behavioral and neurological symptoms before testing positive for the virus. Officials offered rabies post-exposure treatment to people and pets who may have had contact with the dog.
Animal Care Services Director Jon Gary said officials have seen a sharp increase in rabies cases among wildlife and stressed the importance of keeping pets vaccinated.
The case marks the first reported rabid pet dog in Bexar County in more than a decade. Officials reported 22 wildlife rabies cases in June and July 2026, compared with two to three cases during the same period in each of the previous two years.
Gary said residents should remain alert around wildlife, particularly in wooded and undeveloped areas, but do not need to fear seeing wild animals.
Texas law requires pet owners to maintain rabies vaccinations, and officials urged residents to prevent pets from roaming and limit their contact with wildlife.
Residents should not touch wild or unfamiliar animals, including dead animals. San Antonio residents can report animal encounters through 311, while Bexar County residents can contact animal control at 210-335-9000.
Officials also advised residents to confine pets that may have encountered wildlife and report potential exposures. Anyone who is bitten, scratched or otherwise exposed to a potentially rabid animal should immediately wash the affected area with soap and water and seek medical care.
Free pet vaccination clinic
San Antonio Animal Care Services will hold a free pet vaccination clinic Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Monterrey Park, 5919 W. Commerce St.
The clinic will provide free rabies and other vaccinations to the first 100 pets of San Antonio residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents must show proof of residency, and the clinic limits services to three pets per household.
