Pueblo health department pushing for people to have pets vaccinated

The weather is starting to warm up in southern Colorado and the Pueblo City-County Health Department wants your pets to be vaccinated.

The department said it sees an increase of rabies cases starting in April.

Vicki Carlton, who is a program manager for the department, said the warm weather brings foxes, skunks and bats out. She said these animals can carry rabies.

Carlton said if a pet isn’t vaccinated there can be deadly consequences.

“We usually have to recommend that (the pets) are put down or euthanized,” she said.

The health department said one skunk and 14 bats had rabies in Pueblo County last year.