Police shoot rabid-looking raccoons

WOODBURN, Ore. - Police in Woodburn shot and killed two raccoons that were found foaming at the mouth, raising concerns about the safety of pets in the area.

Neighbors found the infected animals near the Woodburn RV Park, just off Interstate 5.

Rabies is so rare in Oregon that experts believe it's more likely that the raccoons had distemper, an infection that is not dangerous to humans but can be deadly for dogs.

Neighbors called police after seeing a sickly raccoon acting erratically in a nearby creek. As officers were on the call, another report came in about an aggressive raccoon just a block away.

Police shot both raccoons and then a neighbor burned the carcasses, which means the animals cannot be tested for disease.

Health experts say people who see raccoons with distemper often assume they have rabies. An animal with distemper will stumble around, act strange and perhaps foam at the mouth.

Distemper, which is spreading rapidly among raccoons in Washington and Oregon, is a severe neurological disease that is very contagious to dogs and can kill them if they are not vaccinated.

Experts say one of the best ways to protect your pet is to protect its dog dish. Never leave it outside because if a raccoon comes along and samples it, the animal can leave the disease behind.

Also, make sure your dogs are up to date on their vaccinations. If they are not, any exposure to an infected raccoon, its saliva or its droppings could put them in danger.