A New Brunswick mother is warning parents to watch for signs of rabies in their pets after her dog came in contact with a raccoon that tested positive for the disease.

Nikki Lindsay says her two children may have been exposed to the virus. They have just finished their last round of rabies vaccinations and Lindsay warns anyone could come in contact with the disease.

More than two weeks ago, Lindsay’s daughters were outside enjoying a popsicle when she noticed they were sharing the treats with their dogs. Then one of the girls ran back to a shed where she spotted a raccoon.

“When she did the dog went with her, which I found strange that he went so abruptly. I could tell she was startled as soon as she went around and she said ‘mommy, I want to show you what I found,’” says Lindsay.

She says the raccoon appeared to be very docile and calm – one of the beginning signs of rabies.

“I knew the dogs had shared the popsicle with the girls and then I thought, I wonder what that could have, so I started searching some things and one of the things was rabies.”

The raccoon later tested positive for rabies and Lindsay’s children have been receiving treatments for the disease. She has also imposed a voluntary quarantine on all her animals.

A second raccoon in the area was tested for rabies but the results were negative.

However, St. Stephen Mayor John Quartermain says they are going to continue trapping and testing to see if it is a bigger issue.

Coun. Marg Harding lives nearby and says she has been on the lookout for animals displaying strange behaviour.

“It’s my understanding that rabies are spread very quickly so it’s very unfortunate,” says Harding. “It’s unfortunate for her children that they have to go through, I understand, a series of shots.”

Lindsay says her daughters are finished getting shots, but she is still undergoing treatment. She also says she has some major concerns about the process.

“I went through today just making a list of contacts I made, 19 contacts is what I’ve made, 19 phone calls to whether that’s Public Health, the hospital,” says Lindsay. “I’ve put an alert out on Facebook that’s been shared over 300 times. It’s just, people need to know and I think the biggest thing people need to know is that it is fatal.”

She says she was surprised at the lack of information about rabies and says different officials were telling her different things, which made an already-difficult situation even more difficult.

Quartermain says anyone who spots a wild animal acting strangely should not go near the animal but contact the town immediately.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar