GASTONIA, N.C. — Gaston County is reporting its seventh confirmed rabies case of 2021 after a raccoon tested positive for the disease on Thursday.
Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement received information on the positive rabies specimen from Griffin Animal Disease Laboratories in Monroe, N.C. around 11 a.m. on November 4th.
Dr. Kristine Blankenship advised Gaston County Communications that Griffin Laboratory received the raccoon specimen from Carolina Wildlife and the specimen was confirmed positive for rabies.
Investigators say the infected raccoon was struck by a car on Monday, November 1st and then Carolina Wildlife picked up the injured raccoon on Legion Road in Mount Holly.
When Carolina Wildlife determined the raccoon was too injured to rehabilitate, they sent the raccoon specimen to Griffin Laboratories.
Animal Care and Enforcement then canvassed the surrounding neighborhood where the raccoon was hit to notify the community of the positive rabies results and to verify rabies vaccinations for all family animals in the area.
Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement also notified the Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services, so they could follow up with Carolina Wildlife and their associates.
Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement stresses the importance of having a valid rabies vaccination for all your pet’s health and safety as well as the health and safety of owners and the community.
