Full Notification

The Fair Lawn Health Officer urges the public to be cautious and back away when encountering a wild animal or strange cat or dog. The Fair Lawn Health Department recently received information about a person being bit by a raccoon. Therefore, if you see a raccoon acting in a strange behavior, keep an eye on the animal from a safe distance and call the Fair Lawn Police Department who will dispatch Animal Control.

Anyone who sees a raccoon or other animal in Fair Lawn that is aggressive, or has difficulty walking, slow, staggering, unstable gait, paralysis or stumbles and falls over a lot, should call the Fair Lawn Police Department IMMEDIATELY at 201-796-1400 and report the location of the animal. The Fair Lawn Police Department dispatches Animal Control to pick up sick animals.

Parents are urged to remind your children to keep a distance away from wild animals and strange dogs and cats. Instruct children to back away slowly from the animals and do not shout to avoid startling the animal. Sick, injured, or orphaned animals should not be picked up or handled. It is better to call for a trained, certified Animal Control Officer.

Also, pet owners should protect their pets from stray wild animals. Make sure that your pets’ rabies vaccination has not expired and that pets do not run loose or left unsupervised when outside in the yard. Vaccination is the least expensive insurance of safeguarding your pet against communicable disease. If your pet has had an interaction with a wild animal or is bitten by an unknown animal, immediately bring your pet to a veterinarian and report it to the Health Department on the next business day. If a person is bitten by any strange or wild animal, the wound should be washed immediately with soap and water, then seek medical attention and report it to the Fair Lawn Health Department at 201-794-5327.