BUCKINGHAM – Jason Agee let two of the family's miniature Dachsunds, R. J. and Charlie, out of the house Sunday afternoon to use the bathroom.

Nothing unusual for two housedogs.

“…A few minutes later, I hear some yelling outside and…I go outside and there they are fighting with a raccoon,” Agee, 22, told The Herald Monday.

Agee, who lives near the Gold Hill area, picked up a stick to fight off the creature; and though he would take them both to a veterinarian, in the aftermath one of the dogs, R. J., who was about 14-15 years old, was injured so badly she would have to be euthanized.

“…Had to beat the raccoon off the other dog or else he would've killed him, too,” Agee said of the second dog, Charlie.

The raccoon, he would go on to describe the scene, had Charlie, who is nine to 10 years old, “in a bear hug and like had (him) by the mouth” and was biting him. Agree added that he grabbed a stick and “knocked the heck out of that raccoon” and got him off of the dog. The raccoon then scurried up a tree, but before he could come back, it was out of the tree and gone.

While it's unknown whether the raccoon (usually a nocturnal animal) actually had rabies and Agee was not bitten himself, he notes he was exposed to blood and saliva and had dog blood on him so he has undergone treatment nonetheless.

Charlie was home recovering Monday and Agee had visited the hospital at the time of the interview and received several shots, including a rabies vaccination. He'll have to receive more.

“I'm really glad that Charlie was up to date on his rabies vaccination and he got his booster yesterday, too,” Agree said.

While not all animals are tested (only those who come in direct contact) for rabies, the number of those testing positive is tracking for a below average year. According to Environmental Health Specialist Todd Grubbs, who works for the Health Department, three wild animals tested positive this year scattered in the county; typically it's about six a year, though he believes the number of calls are down from a peak six or seven years ago. (See regional figures for 2009 in related page one story.)

Cases of expected exposure are supposed to be reported to the Health Department and Sunday's incident was.

Agee encouraged folks to get their animals-dogs and cats-their rabies shots and to keep them up as well as an eye out for sick animals.

It's cautionary advice that, if heeded, could make a difference for family pets.

“…If the animals are vaccinated and they come in contact…they only have to be observed for 45 days,” Grubbs said. “Where, if they're not…they need to be put down.”

He also agrees, if someone sees an animal they think might be rabid to stay away from it.

“Stay out of their way is the best advice,” Grubbs said.

Agee says he is “terribly” saddened at the loss of R. J. and that he started crying when the doctor placed the needle in.

He thinks it could have been him out in the yard-the raccoon could have come after him or his 85-year-old grandmother, or his 18-month old niece.

Charlie, Agee would detail, was beat up, stitched up and was given antibiotics, a Rabies booster and is on the mend.

“…It looks like he went about 20 rounds with Mike Tyson,” Agee says.