The Russell County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warning to residents.

The warning came after a stray cat tested positive for rabies on January 14, 2026. The warning was issued to residents in the Crawford community of the county.

The sheriff’s office said they want to reminds residents and visitors they can reduce their risk of exposure by remembering to not approach, handle, or feed wild or domestic animals you are unfamiliar with.

Residents can also reduce their risk of exposure by not allowing their pets to run free, keeping their pets vaccinations up to date, reporting any animal bites/scratches and seek medical attention immediately and report any animals which are behaving strangely or aggressively.