Dog daycare says dog with rabies visited Chicago facility; 1st local case in decades

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo

Thursday, December 25, 2025 1:25AM

Dog daycare says Chicago dog with rabies visited facility

CHICAGO (WLS) -- For the first time in decades, a dog in Chicago tested positive for rabies.

The Bow Wow Lounge, a pet boarding and daycare facility on North Ravenswood said the rabid dog, visited their facility.

According to the business, all pet owners whose dogs may have been exposed, have been notified.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said this is the first rabid dog in Cook County since before 1964.

The agency said the dog bit someone on Dec. 11, and testing revealed it to be rabies positive.

However, the dog had been vaccinated for rabies in June.

According to the IDPH, the dog was sent to Chicago from a Florida rescue group in May, before being adopted.

The IDPH said the dog had behavioral issues throughout its life and was euthanized on Dec. 18.

The source of rabies exposure is under investigation, and the lot of the rabies vaccination the dog received is being tested.

PAWS Chicago said it received the dog as a puppy in May, and he received various vaccines, including rabies, when age appropriate.

He was adopted into a family in July, and returned to to PAWS in December.

The organization said no PAWS animals or volunteers were in contact with the dog in December, when the virus was likely shedding.