Middletown animal control officials have confirmed that a bat found on the ground near a home has tested positive for rabies. The Middletown Township Animal Control Division safely captured the bat outside a home in the Locust section of town near Swan Avenue on Aug. 4. Testing showed that the bat was infected with rabies. Officials believe the bat may have also exposed two dogs to rabies. Animal control officials are advising residents to make sure all animals, including household pets and livestock, are up to date on vaccinations. “Vaccinated pets that are exposed to a rabid animal generally require a rabies booster and a 45-day observation period, while unvaccinated pets may face a strict four-month quarantine with no human or animal contact,” the Animal Control Division said. “Rabies is a fatal disease, but it is preventable.” In addition, pets should not be allowed off-leash when outdoors, especially in wooded areas where they could potentially come into contact with rabid animals. Officials also said any human or animal that is bitten or exposed to the blood or saliva of an animal should seek medical attention.