In February 2026, Jefferson County Public Health confirmed something that every Front Range pet owner should know about: a skunk found in the Oak Crest neighborhood in Arvada tested positive for rabies, making it Colorado’s first confirmed rabid animal of the year.

That’s not just a Denver headline. Colorado Springs and El Paso County share the same wildlife corridor, the same warming weather patterns, and the same risks. If you have a dog or cat, especially one that spends any time outdoors, this is directly relevant to you.

Why This Is Happening Now in Colorado

According to Jefferson County Public Health, warmer and drier winter weather is a key factor. When winters are milder, wildlife like skunks and bats remain active longer, wander further into residential neighborhoods, and come into contact with domestic pets at higher rates than in colder years.

Rachel Reichardt, Environmental Health Specialist and Zoonosis Lead, put it plainly: keeping pets vaccinated and avoiding wild animals are the best defenses available, and both are entirely within your control as a pet owner.

In Colorado Springs, this matters in neighborhoods near open space, trails, and parks, exactly the kind of areas where dog owners walk and play with their pets every single day.

What Rabies Actually Is, and Why It’s So Serious

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is almost universally fatal once clinical symptoms appear. There is no treatment after symptoms begin. Prevention, through vaccination, is the only effective strategy.

The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, almost always via a bite. Skunks, bats, raccoons, and foxes are the most common wildlife carriers in Colorado. Infected animals often behave abnormally: stumbling, appearing disoriented, being active during daylight hours when they’re normally nocturnal, or showing unusual aggression.

⚠ If your pet has been in contact with a wild animal, even briefly, even without a visible bite, contact your veterinarian immediately. Time matters with rabies exposure. Don’t wait and watch.

Is Your Pet’s Rabies Vaccine Current?

Colorado state law requires that dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. But “required” doesn’t mean every pet in the state is actually up to date. Vaccines lapse. Paperwork gets lost. Life gets busy. This story is a good reminder to double-check right now.

Rabies vaccines are typically given to puppies and kittens between 12 and 16 weeks old, followed by a booster one year later, and then every one to three years after that, depending on the vaccine type used. Your vet’s records will show when your pet is due for renewal.

If you’re not sure whether your pet is current, call your vet today. If you’ve been putting off a wellness visit, use this as the nudge you needed.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Pets Right Now

• Verify rabies vaccination status for every pet in your home – dogs, cats, and even indoor-only cats are required by law to be vaccinated in Colorado.
• Keep pets supervised when outdoors – especially at dawn, dusk, and overnight when skunks, bats, and other wildlife are most active in the Colorado Springs area.
• Avoid wild animals entirely – a skunk, raccoon, or bat that is out during daylight hours or behaving strangely should be treated as a potential rabies risk. Do not approach it.
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals – and to tell an adult immediately if they are scratched or bitten by any animal they don’t know.
• Know your local contacts – for animal concerns in Colorado Springs, contact El Paso County Animal Services. For wildlife, contact Colorado Parks & Wildlife at their regional office.

What This Means for Boarding and Daycare

At 4 Paws Country Kennels, we require current rabies vaccination documentation for every dog and cat before they can board or attend daycare. This is non-negotiable, and it’s not bureaucracy for its own sake. It’s how we protect every animal in our care, including yours.

When you drop your pet off with us, you’re trusting us with an animal that other families are also trusting us with. An unvaccinated dog or cat puts that entire community at risk. Our vaccination policy exists because we take that responsibility seriously.

If you’re planning a boarding stay and aren’t sure whether your pet’s vaccines are current, call your vet before your scheduled drop-off date. Don’t wait until the morning of pick-up to find out there’s an issue; we won’t be able to accept your pet without documentation in hand.

Already booked with 4 Paws? Bring your pet’s vaccine records to drop-off, or email them ahead of time. If your records are digital (many vets now use pet health apps), a screenshot showing the vaccine name, date administered, and expiration is usually sufficient. When in doubt, call us at 719-660-1260.

The Bigger Picture: Preventive Pet Care in Colorado

The rabies story is a timely reminder that pet health isn’t just about treating illness after it appears,  it’s about the consistent, ongoing habits that prevent illness from gaining a foothold in the first place. Vaccines. Regular vet visits. Knowing your pet’s health history. These aren’t optional extras. They’re the foundation of responsible pet ownership, and they directly affect how well your pet does in boarding environments, in social settings with other animals, and when something unexpected happens.

Colorado is an active, outdoor-oriented state. Dogs hike trails near Cheyenne Mountain, run in open fields at Fountain Creek, and play at off-leash parks throughout the Springs. That’s part of what makes living here so great for pet owners. But it also means wildlife encounters are a real and recurring feature of life here, not a once-in-a-decade event.

Stay current on vaccines. Know your local resources. Keep an eye on your pet when they’re outdoors. And if something seems off,  a strange animal in the yard, a bite you weren’t expecting, a pet acting unlike themselves, act quickly. Rabies doesn’t give you time to wait and see.