CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Health officials confirmed on Tuesday that a raccoon in Caldwell County tested positive for rabies.
On Monday, a resident reported that their dog, which was not current on rabies vaccinations, killed a raccoon. The raccoon was sent to the NC State Laboratory of Public Health, where it tested positive for the rabies virus.
At this time the owners of the infected dog have surrendered the dog to Animal Control.
North Carolina law requires that any unvaccinated animal that comes into contact with a rabid animal must be euthanized or be quarantined for six months in a facility authorized by the local health director.
People can protect themselves and their pets from rabies by taking these precautions:
- Make sure all your companion animals are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. They should always wear their license tags.
- Supervise your pets to prevent exposure.
- If a bat is found inside your home you should contact Animal Care & Control.
- If your animal is exposed to a potentially rabid animal wear glove to protect yourself from the infectious saliva that may be on your animal’s coat.
- Teach your children to stay away from wild animals including bats or animals they don’t know.
- Avoid attracting wildlife to your home by removing food sources such as food scraps and removing cat and dog food at night.
