Wausau, Wis. (WAOW) – A pet fox stirred controversy after it bit a Wausau community officer, over the weekend.

Evee, the two-year-old silver fox, was euthanized, to be tested for rabies.

A Wausau resident noticed a fox in their backyard so they called the Wausau Police Department for help.

“One of our community service officers responded with our animal control vehicle to assess the situation and see if they could help,” Captain Matt Barnes, of the Wausau Police Department said. “They used some food as a lure to try and get the animal. When the fox went for the food it bit our community service officer in the finger.”

Police say there was no way to know whether or not Evee had rabies and transferred them to the officer.

Captain Barnes said officials had one of two options.

“One is the employee has to undergo a series of rabies shot, which are not only painful and time consuming as a series of five sets of shots but it’s also incredibly expensive. My understanding is it’s about 10-thousand dollars for those shots,” Barnes said. “The alternative being, the animal is euthanized and tested for rabies to be able to prove it doesn’t have rabies and then the employee doesn’t have to undergo those shots.”

Evee’s owners said she was like a child to them and was the love of their lives.

“She sleeps with us, [she’s] litter box trained, never kenneled at home,” Emily Hageny said.

Hageny is outraged that Evee was euthanized.

“We are responsible for getting her off her leash, we are responsible that she was in someone’s backyard,” Hageny said. “The situation that upsets us is she wasn’t handled properly and protocol wasn’t met. If it was met, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Barnes wished the officer had done something differently.

“I wish the employee had used some of the personal protection equipment that’s available in the form of bite gloves.,” Barnes said.

The police department will bring the situation to the Public Health and Safety committee of the City Council.

They want to ensure leaders are aware, pets who are not able to be vaccinated, are currently allowed in the city of Wausau.