GLEN, N.Y. (WTEN) – A fox that attacked a local 7-year-old girl has tested positive for rabies.
Monday evening, Addiysn Rose was riding her scooter in her yard with her brother when a fox jumped out of nowhere and bit her.
“He had said he saw a monster outside,” Addisyn’s father, Pat Rose, said.
The monster was actually an aggressive fox that left bite marks on Addisyn’s legs.
“The thing just was walking slowly, and then it crossed right here, and then she nicked it a little bit,” her brother, Kohen, described. “It was almost in the woods, and it turned around, and it just attacked her.”
Kohen is now being called a hero after he reacted to his sister’s screaming. He immediately jumped in and pulled her away to safety.
“Then I turned around, and I said, ‘Addie,’” Kohen said. “And I look down and she was screaming, so I had to go in there and help her.”
A father is warning others after her daughter was bit by a rabid fox in the Town of Glen. pic.twitter.com/EBRZc5f3Fs— Carmen Chau (@CChau88) August 24, 2016
That’s when Pat opened the door and found himself staring face-to-face with the fox.
“As I opened the garage door, it was a fox,” he said. “It was on the steps looking to come in the house. Whatever it was after, it wanted it again.”
With Pat being a hunter, his instincts took over, and he shot and killed the fox. When police arrived, the fox was taken back to the Department of Public Health for evaluation.
Meanwhile, Addisyn was taken to the hospital.
“We thought maybe it was scratches but ended up being two bites,” Pat said. “We just got her in the tub, put peroxide on her quick, and sent her off to the hospital.”
The family said foxes aren’t typically seen in their area, but Pat has a message for parents.
“Educate your kids,” he warned. “Animals aren’t bad, you know. But there’s instances where they need to react.”
Addisyn will receive shots for the next 10 days as part of her treatment. Her parents said the incident will not prevent them from enjoying the outdoors.