A Southbury man, his wife and their dog are all recovering after being attacked by a rabid bobcat.

It's not uncommon to see plenty of wildlife in the Purchase section of Southbury.

"Bears, coyotes, basically all the animals here in Connecticut wandering through at some point or another," said Malcolm Jones. "They avoid us and we avoid them — basically is what we always do."

That changed Monday evening.

Jones' dog was out in their fenced yard when she was mauled by a bobcat.

"My wife and I were checking out the dog's injuries in the garage, then the bobcat charged into the garage and leapt right onto my wife's head -- like wrapped herself right around the head," said Jones.

Without thinking, Jones ripped the bobcat off his wife, threw it to the ground and killed it with a nearby log.

"Her scalp was torn open, her shoulders, her stomach, her arm — forearm. And we all ended up with bites. I have bites on both of my forearms," said Jones of the injuries that he and his wife suffered.

Head Animal Control Officer Melody Sandquist responded to the incident. She said it is rare for a bobcat to pursue a human.

"One of the first things that did cross my mind was absolutely rabies," said Sandquist.

Sandquist brought the dead bobcat to be tested -- which confirmed her hunch.

She reminds people to be cautious outside, especially if you live near the woods, but stresses most bobcats are not rabid.

Sandquist says it was her first, and hopefully last, bobcat attack call.

Jones and his wife needed stitches and rabies shots. The dog was treated by a veterinarian.

"We'll be fine, just something we'll never forget though," said Jones.

Animal control released information on rabies and pets:

This serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccinations for pets. Animal Control asks owners to make certain that all pets, indoor and outdoor, are up to date with their rabies vaccinations.

Animal Control would like to remind pet owners to supervise their pets and to be cautious of leaving them unattended while outdoors. While walking outside or hiking, it is recommended to have a second person accompanying you and to carry an air horn.

Some common symptoms of rabies can be unprovoked aggression, difficulty walking, and excess salivation. If you or your pet have had contact with wildlife, call your animal control and follow up with a health care provider and/or veterinarian.