City and county officials are urging owners to vaccinate pets after two animals found in the county this week were proven rabid.

Officials received confirmation Wednesday that a fox found recently off Farm-to-Market Road 581 West in Lometa was rabid. Just two days earlier, Lampasas Animal Shelter supervisor Kasey Dressell learned that a raccoon picked up last week in the 900 block of East Third St. in Lampasas had rabies.

Following the discovery less than a month ago of a rabid cat, the recent results mark the second and third verified rabies finds in the county this year. Neighboring counties have had similar numbers of rabies cases this year, she said.

“This is bad to have three in this short a time,” Mrs. Dressell said. “It’s definitely something I would be concerned about if my pets weren’t current [on vaccinations].”

In addition, results are expected today or Monday for a suspicious possum and raccoon found midweek near Sulphur Creek in Lampasas, Mrs. Dressell said.

The possum entered a woman’s residence and tried to get in the bathtub with her, Mrs. Dressell said. The raccoon by Sulphur Creek came into contact with a cat — which was euthanized — the animal shelter supervisor said, and the fox came into contact with a Lometa landowner’s pets. No human exposure occurred, however, with the recently confirmed or suspected rabid animals, Mrs. Dressel said.

Because of recent rabies findings, police will issue citations to pet owners whose animals 16 weeks and older do not have current rabies vaccinations. No warnings will be given.

A pet vaccination clinic will take place June 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lometa Volunteer Fire Department next to Lometa City Hall. Lampasas veterinarian Dr. Brad Moyer will administer vaccinations to dogs and cats. A shot clinic at the Lampasas Animal Shelter is being planned for a date within the next week or so, Mrs. Dressel said. Officials also may begin including rabies vaccinations in the cost of adopting a shel- ter animal or recovering an impounded pet.

She urged county residents to phone 556-8586 to report suspected rabid animals, which may stagger, appear drunk or act unusually vicious. Nocturnal animals wandering in the open during daylight hours also may be rabid.

A person who has close contact with a rabid animal, Mrs. Dressell said, should see a doctor as soon as possible or go to the emergency room. Pets exposed to a rabid animal should be taken immediately to a veterinarian, she added.