The health department is looking for a good Samaritan whose life may be in danger after she rescued a puppy with rabies.

The department said the 4-month-old blue heeler jumped out of the back of a pickup truck going east on Bridge Boulevard on Sept. 28.

Health officials said after the dog got out of the vehicle, a Spanish-speaking woman in her 20s or 30s rescued the animal. The woman returned the dog to a gas station on Goff and Bridge at about 7 or 8 p.m.

A week later, the owner took the puppy to the vet and found out it had rabies.
The dog has since been put to sleep, but its rescuer is still out there and has no idea she is in danger.

The infection is easily treated by a vaccine if it is caught right away, but as soon as the symptoms show up, it is usually fatal.

Immediate rabies symptoms include a fever or a headache. After the disease progresses, the symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hallucinations, and difficulty swallowing.
If you know anything about the woman who rescued a blue heeler puppy, please call the health department immediately at 505-827-0006.