Raccoons test positive for rabies; dog in quarantine for 6 months | Health

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Two raccoons—one that went inside a business and one that fought with a dog—tested positive for rabies in New Hanover County this week.

The Animal Services Unit was called to the downtown Market Street area on Saturday to capture and euthanize a raccoon, according to New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sergeant J.J. Brewer. The raccoon was sent to the N.C. State Lab for testing on Monday and the positive results came back on Tuesday. Brewer said in a news release that the store owner was notified and officials canvassed the area to educate neighbors about rabies.

On Monday, an area veterinarian notified the ASU that an owned dog had fought with a raccoon on Sunday in the Shorewood Hills Drive area. The owner reportedly handled the dog’s collar after the altercation and was potentially exposed to rabies. Brewer said the dog was not current with its rabies vaccine so he was brought to Animal Services until the raccoon could be tested. The dog will now remain at Animal Services for a six-month quarantine.

These are the seventh and eighth positive rabies cases for 2012 in New Hanover County.

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