ICYM: Middletown Rabies Alert 4/21/16

Middletown NJ:

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of a raccoon testing positive for Rabies. The animal had contact with 2 dogs on April 19, 2016 which required testing of the raccoon. Luckily the dogs had current rabies vaccinations. The incident occurred in the area of Richard Terrace and Stephenville Boulevard.

Residents should not be interacting with wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department at 732-615-2100 after hours and on weekends.

Please make sure all domestic animals (dogs, cats, and livestock) are currently vaccinated with a Rabies vaccination. Do not let your pets run free off leash, even in the woods, to ensure they do not come in contact with wildlife that may be rabid.

Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Additional Info about Rabies from the CDC

Middletown Rabies Alert 7-29-15

From Middletown Alerts:

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of a raccoon testing positive for Rabies. The raccoon was tested after possible interaction with a dog. This incident happened in the area of Millbrook Drive, located in the New Monmouth section of town. Luckily, no wounds were found on the dog according to Health Department Director Rich DeBenedetto.

In light of finding a rabid raccoon, we would like to remind residents about the possibility of wildlife being infected with Rabies. Please make sure all domestic animals (dogs, cats, and livestock) are currently vaccinated with a Rabies shot. Domestic animals that are not properly vaccinated and come in contact with a rabid animal must be confined for six months in an approved pen or facility by the owner or humanely euthanized to protect the family members from possible exposure to the Rabies virus, DeBenedetto added.

Residents should not be interacting with wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097.

Middletown Rabies Alert #12

From Middletown Alerts: 

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of a raccoon
testing positive for rabies, bringing the total of animals testing positive this year to 14. This latest incident happened in the area of Seabird Lane.

Over the past few months, the township Health Department has found and reported raccoons and one fox that have tested positive for Rabies. The previous locations of the animals were:

• Maxson Ave
• Walnut Avenue
• Pate Drive
• Locust Point Road
• Pineridge Avenue
• Walnut Avenue between Pine Street and Chestnut Street
• 900 Leonardville Road, Croydon Hall Complex
• Route 35 between Kanes Lane and Kings Highway East
• Red Hill Road between Dwight Road and Deepdale Drive
• Michael Drive off of Nutswamp Rd
• Ueland Road off of Nutswamp Road
• Essex Street off of Bray Ave
• Clay Court off of Hartshorne Road

The township would like to alert residents about the dangers of interacting with any wildlife. Rabies can be found in many animals. The Health Department would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to keep their distance from all wildlife, ill appearing or not, and to also keep an eye on pets around these animals. Do not let dogs or cats run free where they may become in contact with wildlife. All dogs and cats must be licensed in Middletown, which requires that they all have current rabies vaccinations.

If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Middletown Rabies Alert #10

From Middletown Alerts:

(Don't be fooled by cute wild animals)

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of another raccoon testing positive for rabies, bringing the total of animal testing positive this year to 11. This latest incident happened in the area of Pate Drive.

Over the past few months, the township Health Department has found and reported 10 raccoons and one fox that have tested positive for Rabies. The previous locations of the animals were:

• Locust Point Road
• Pineridge Avenue
• Walnut Avenue between Pine Street and Chestnut Street
• 900 Leonardville Road, Croydon Hall Complex
• Route 35 between Kanes Lane and Kings Highway East
• Red Hill Road between Dwight Road and Deepdale Drive
• Michael Drive off of Nutswamp Rd
• Ueland Road off of Nutswamp Road
• Essex Street off of Bray Ave
• Clay Court off of Hartshorne Road

The township would like to alert residents about the dangers of interacting with any wildlife. Rabies can be found in many animals. The Health Department would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to keep their distance from all wildlife, ill appearing or not, and to also keep an eye on pets around these animals. Do not let dogs or cats run free where they may become in contact with wildlife. All dogs and cats must be licensed in Middletown, which requires that they all have current rabies vaccinations.

If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Middletown Rabies Alert # 8

From Middletown Alerts:

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of an eighth animal testing positive for rabies. The Animal Control Division responded after a resident noticed a raccoon was acting sickly in the backyard.

The incident happened in the area of Walnut Ave between Pine Street and Chestnut Street.

Over the past few months, the township Health Department has found and reported 6 raccoons and one fox that have tested positive for Rabies. The previous locations of the animals were:

• 900 Leonardville Road, Croydon Hall Complex
• Route 35 between Kanes Lane and Kings Highway East
• Red Hill Road between Dwight Road and Deepdale Drive
• Michael Drive off of Nutswamp Rd
• Ueland Road off of Nutswamp Road
• Essex Street off of Bray Ave
• Clay Court off of Hartshorne Road

The township would like to alert residents about the dangers of interacting with any wildlife. Rabies can be found in many animals. The Health Department would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to keep their distance from all wildlife, ill appearing or not, and to also keep an eye on pets around these animals. Do not let dogs or cats run free where they may become in contact with wildlife. All dogs and cats must be licensed in Middletown, which requires that they all have current rabies vaccinations.

If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Rabies Alert #5

From Middletown Alerts:

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of a fifth raccoon testing positive for Rabies in as many weeks. The raccoon was tested after the resident noticed the animal was acting sickly in the backyard. The incident happened in the area of Red Hill Road between Dwight Road and Deepdale Drive.

Previous cases were found over the last 5 weeks at the following locations: Michael Drive off of Nutswamp Rd, Ueland Road off of Nutswamp Road, Essex Street off of Bray Ave, Clay Court off of Hartshorne Road.


The Middletown Township Health Department would like to remind residents to be aware of your pets when they are outside. Wildlife will be attracted to areas where residents put food out for their animals. Any dog or cat found to be in direct contact with a known rabid animal that is not properly immunized could be at risk. The domestic animal would have to be placed under either a strict 6-month confinement in a cage with no human contact or would be humanely euthanized to protect the family and the public from the Rabies virus.

It isimperative that all dogs and cats are licensed in the Township. A valid rabies shot is required for licensing and ensures that all of our domestic pets (dogs and cats) are protected and do not end up as noted above when found to be in contact with a rabid animal. License applications are accepted year-round. Call with questions regarding licensing.

Residents should not be interacting with any wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.

Rabies Alert # 4

From Middletown Alerts:

The Middletown Township Health Department has received laboratory confirmation of another raccoon testing positive for Rabies. This is the fourth report of a rabid animal this year. The raccoon was tested after it was killed by a dog. The incident happened in the area of Clay Court and Hartshorne Road. The pet owner contacted the Health Department after receiving the last Rabies Advisory sent out by the Township; otherwise, this incident may have gone unreported.


The dog involved in this altercation with the rabid raccoon was currently up to date on its rabies vaccination. As a result, it will be quarantined at home for only 45 days, as a precaution. This situation could have been more severe if the family pet was not properly vaccinated. Any dog or cat found to be in direct contact with a known rabid animal that is not properly immunized would be handled in a much different manner. The domestic animal would be placed under either a strict 6 month confinement in a cage with no human contact or would be humanely euthanized to protect the family and the public from the Rabies virus.

It is imperative that all dogs and cats are licensed in the Township. A valid rabies shot is required for licensing and ensures that all of our domestic pets (dogs and cats) are protected and do not end up as noted above when found to be in contact with another rabid animal.

Residents should not be interacting with any wildlife. If you come across a sick or injured animal, keep your distance and please contact Animal Control at 732-615-2097 immediately or contact the Police Department after hours and on weekends. Remember, Rabies is a fatal disease. The best course of defense is the vaccination of your pets and not handling or interacting with wildlife.