Confirmed Rabies Case Prompts Reminder to Prevent Animal Exposures

SAN ANTONIO (August 19, 2026) – A confirmed rabies case involving an owned dog is prompting San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) and Metro Health to remind residents that contact between pets and wildlife must be taken seriously and reported immediately.      

On August 18, 2026, the Metro Health Laboratory confirmed that a dog tested positive for the rabies virus. The dog’s owner told investigators their pet killed a baby skunk in late July near their Far Westside home inside Loop 1604. The wildlife encounter was never reported by the owner. In the weeks following the incident, the male Husky mix began displaying concerning behavioral and neurological symptoms. Exposed pets and people have been offered rabies prophylaxis.

The public is advised that all of San Antonio and Bexar County are experiencing an outbreak of wild animal rabies, with 22 cases reported in June and July 2026, compared to 2-3 cases reported in June and July of 2024 and 2025. The recent confirmed rabies case is the first reported in a pet dog in Bexar County in more than a decade. A rabies map by the Texas Department of State Health Services can be found on their website.

Rabies is a preventable viral disease that can impact people and is most seen in skunks, bats, foxes and raccoons. Prevention is the best protection. Prompt medical evaluation and appropriate treatment are critical after a potential exposure. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. Residents are strongly urged to follow this guidance to protect their pets and family:

• Keep dogs, cats and other pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccination provides crucial protection if a pet encounters a sick animal.
• Do not allow dogs to roam freely, which is illegal. Keeping your pet on your property reduces the chance of an interaction with wildlife or another sick animal.
• Never feed, touch or handle wildlife or unknown animals. Teach children never to touch wildlife or roaming animals, alive or dead, and to tell an adult immediately if they see an unknown animal near pets or people. Report any interaction immediately to SAACS through 311. County residents can call Bexar County animal control at 210-335-9000.
• Confine a pet that may have encountered wildlife to prevent additional contact with people or other animals. Any actual or potential rabies exposure must be reported to the local rabies authority for investigation. 
• If a potentially rabid animal is inside a home or building, try to confine it only if that can be done safely and without direct contact. If possible, wait for Animal Control to respond. 
• Anyone who is bitten, scratched or may have been exposed to an animal should immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine if additional treatment is needed. 
• Call 311 or use the 311 mobile app to request assistance with the safe removal of dead animals.

Vaccination is the most effective protection against rabies. By both City and State law, dogs and cats must remain current on their legally required rabies vaccinations. San Antonio Animal Care Services hosts weekly pet vaccination clinics, including an event this Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Monterrey Park, at 5919 West Commerce St. The clinic is open to City of San Antonio residents, with free rabies shots and other protective vaccinations available for the first 100 pets. Additional low-cost packages will also be available while supplies last.