Rabies Alert Issued
Polk County Issues 60-Day Rabies Alert After Feral Cat Attacks Five People
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Key Points
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The 60-day rabies alert covers a defined area bordered by Chart Prine Road (north), West Bella Vista Street (south), Gardner Road (east), and Shady Oak Drive East (west).
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Investigators described the attacks as starting in the first week of June and identified victims by age and incident detail, including a 33-year-old woman who “later defended herself with a baseball bat when the cat charged her,” plus a 29-year-old man bitten on his legs and a 16-year-old girl bitten while trying to play with the animal.
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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “This unvaccinated roaming stray cat with rabies attacked and bit five people, and that speaks for itself,” after officials said the cat was found dead under a Glen Road home and confirmed rabid by the state lab.
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Animal control said Polk County’s ordinance requires cats and dogs “four months and older be vaccinated against rabies” and bars animals from running at large, authorizing officers to impound and quarantine animals.
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The Florida Department of Health in Polk County also provided a specific injury-reporting line: residents were told to report bites/scratches to 863-519-8300, option 4, and seek post-exposure treatment immediately.
A feral cat with rabies attacked five people and a 4-month-old puppy in north Lakeland, Florida, triggering a 60-day rabies alert for parts of Polk County, according to Tampa Free Press. The cat was found dead under a Glen Road home on June 11, and the state lab in Tampa confirmed it was rabid the next day. Health officials issued the formal alert on June 15.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was direct about the danger. "This unvaccinated roaming stray cat with rabies attacked and bit five people, and that speaks for itself," he said, as Hoodline reported. Authorities cited a neighbor, 31-year-old Angelica Perez, for negligence — including failing to vaccinate the cat she had been feeding and letting roam free.
Five People Attacked Over One Week on Glen Road
The attacks began in the first week of June 2026. A 29-year-old man was bitten on his legs. A 33-year-old woman was attacked at a neighbor's house — the cat jumped into her lap and bit her finger, then went after her legs. She later fought the animal off with a baseball bat. A 16-year-old girl was bitten on the knee while trying to play with the cat, according to Hoodline.
Two more victims followed: a 9-year-old girl attacked outside her own home and a 13-year-old boy bitten while taking out the trash at the end of his driveway. A 4-month-old puppy was also attacked outside Perez's home and placed under quarantine. Animal control set traps in the area but caught 10 other stray cats before the aggressive cat was found dead, Tampa Free Press reported.
Neighbor Cited After Cats Left Unvaccinated and Loose
Investigators identified Perez as the person feeding and caring for the colony of cats, including the one that tested positive for rabies. She was cited for negligence resulting in injury, failure to vaccinate, and letting cats run at large, according to Hoodline. She was not among the bite victims.
Polk County law is clear on the rules. Its ordinance requires all cats and dogs four months and older to be vaccinated against rabies. It also bars animals from roaming free. Officers can impound and quarantine animals that break those rules. Sheriff Judd said that "irresponsible pet owners and pet custodians create and continue this problem," as Tampa Free Press reported.
Alert Zone Covers Four Roads in North Lakeland
The 60-day rabies alert covers a specific zone. The boundaries are Chart Prine Road to the north, West Bella Vista Street to the south, Gardner Road to the east, and Shady Oak Drive East to the west. Anyone living or spending time inside that zone should take extra care, according to Tampa Free Press.
Florida saw an 80% rise in animal rabies cases in 2024 compared to 2023, with 110 confirmed cases statewide. Cats are among the most common domestic animals to carry the virus because they often live outdoors and miss vaccinations. The state recorded 114 animal rabies cases in 2025, with raccoons and bats leading the count.
What Residents Should Do Right Now
Health officials urged people in the alert zone to stay away from wild or stray animals. Keep pets on a leash and make sure their rabies shots are current. Secure any livestock. If you or your pet is bitten or scratched, seek medical care right away, according to Tampa Free Press.
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County set up a direct line for reporting bites and scratches: call 863-519-8300 and press option 4. Pet owners whose animals were bitten should call Polk County Animal Control at 863-577-1762. A full course of post-exposure treatment — shots given after a possible exposure to rabies — can cost between $2,500 and $7,000 per person, making quick reporting and early care critical, as Hoodline noted.
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