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On Saturday (May 4th) at approximately 9:30  AM, Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement received a call from the 1500 block of Stanley-Lucia Road saying an injured raccoon had been found in the family barn. There was no human contact with the raccoon and the animal owner did not witness the family dog have any interaction with the raccoon.

Animal Care and Enforcement Specialists investigated the incident and the raccoon was sent to the NC Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh, when the lab opened on Monday. The official laboratory results were received on Tuesday indicating that the raccoon tested positive for rabies. As a precaution the family dog received a rabies booster shot from a veterinarian.

Animal Care and Enforcement completed a neighborhood canvass in the area of Stanley-Lucia Road  to notify the community of the positive rabies results, and verify rabies vaccinations for family animals in the area.

Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement also notified Gaston County Department Health and Human Services about the incident.

The Gaston County Police Department Animal Care and Enforcement Division stresses the importance of having a valid rabies vaccination for all pet’s health and safety, as well as the health and safety of their owners and community.

This represents the third confirmed rabies case in Gaston County this year.

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