Allentown's Bureau of Health and Animal Control is reminding residents to vaccinate their pets after police nabbed a rabid raccoon this week.

The raccoon came into contact with a dog on Sunday, and the racoon was captured in the 400 block of North Spruce Street.

The raccoon tested positive for rabies, and the dog is now subject to a six-month quarantine per state Department of Agriculture protocols.

Animal control advises feeding all pets inside, cleaning up under bird feeders, covering trash and recycling cans, and filling any holes around sheds to prevent den sites.

Residents should not pet, touch or feed stray or wild animals, and health officials want to remind pet owners to vaccinate against the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most rabies cases reported occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.

If you have come into contact with a stray animal and have been bitten or scratched, you should seek medical attention immediately. Rabies if left untreated is almost always fatal.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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