Rabies is seldom a problem these days.
Every so often, a raccoon contracts the disease, especially in the suburbs of large towns and cities. Occasionally, even a fox will test positive for rabies.
But unlike the first half of the 20th century, almost all dogs and many cats are now vaccinated against rabies. In fact, with leash laws, most dogs spend their lives locked up in houses and for the most part are not allowed to roam outside a fenced-in yard.
But a century ago, rabies was a real threat. Those were the days when stray dogs sometimes roamed in packs in many rural areas and were often a primary transmitter of the disease. ....