With five reported county cases of rabies in wild animals so far this year, the Bastrop County Animal Shelter is stepping up its assistance to the public in combating the spread of the deadly disease.

For the first time, starting next week, the shelter will offer rabies vaccinations for area residents who bring in their pets. The vaccine will be given on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Currently, the shelter gives rabies vaccinations to animals it puts up for adoption, but not for pets that already have a home.

It is a move that shelter director Troy Walters hopes will help better educate the public about rabies.

“There are no reports, so far, of rabies in domestic animals here,” Walters said, referring to Bastrop County.

But the case is different for wild animals.

“Five positive rabies specimens have been reported in Bastrop County, so far, in 2011 – in two bats and three skunks,” Walters said. “The lack of food sources and water, due to the dry conditions, increases the likelihood of native wildlife coming into contact with us and our pets.”

Walter said almost any warm-blooded animal can carry rabies, however, the top five animals for rabies infection in Texas are raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes and bats.

He said rabies is an acute viral disease that attacks the brain and nervous system.

“It is a ‘zoonotic’ disease, which means it is passed from animals to humans.  Humans should avoid contact with wild animals and take precautions to protect their pets as they may come into contact with wildlife,” Walters said.

“If you are feeding wildlife, you should stop right away. Wildlife lose their fear of people through a prolonged period of direct and/or indirect feeding.”

Walters said it is crucial to keep outdoor feeding areas clean between feedings.

“Pet food left outdoors will attract wildlife to your yard or back door,” Walters said. “You should keep all trash around your yard contained and secured.”

Remove bird feeders if problem wildlife species are seen around the feeders.

“The seed in bird feeders attracts many small and medium-sized mammals which in turn attract larger mammals,” Walters said.

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