On Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at 12:50 pm, Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement was notified of a positive rabies specimen that was sent to the North Carolina State Lab on Saturday, August 6, 2022.
On Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 11:01 am, Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement responded to a call regarding a raccoon involved in a fight with a residents’ dog in the area of Windsong Court off of Gaston Day School Road in Gastonia, NC. The dog killed the raccoon. Animal Care and Enforcement collected the raccoon and sent a rabies specimen to the North Carolina State Lab. The raccoon tested positive for rabies. The dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and received a booster.
Animal Care and Enforcement completed a neighborhood canvas in the 100 block of Windsong Court, Gastonia, NC to notify the community of the positive rabies result and to verify rabies vaccinations for family animals in the area. Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement also notified the Gaston County Department Health and Human Services.
The Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement stresses the importance of having an up-to-date rabies vaccination for all of your pets. By keeping your pet’s current on their rabies vaccines, you are protecting them from contracting the disease from wildlife and spreading the disease to your family and other animals, and people in the community. Furthermore, it is important to never handle or transport sick wildlife. The animal could have rabies. Gaston County residents should contact Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement to capture and transport sick wildlife.
This represents the eighth confirmed rabies case in Gaston County this year. No further information is available at this time.