On Monday, July 9th, 2012, the Gaston County Police Department Animal Control Division received a call reporting a fox had been killed by two dogs belonging to Mr. Jeremy Kennedy of the 300 block of Oakwood Drive (in the Dickson Heights Subdivision) near Mt. Holly. Animal Control officials investigated the call and impounded the fox carcass. The carcass was processed for rabies testing and sent to the State Diagnostics Lab in Raleigh. Laboratory officials reported on Wednesday, July 11th that the fox had tested positive for rabies.
North Carolina State Law requires any unvaccinated dogs or cats exposed to a positive rabies vector be destroyed or quarantined for a 6-month period at owner’s expense. Unfortunately both of Mr. Kennedy’s dogs were not currently vaccinated and the owner will surrender the dogs to Animal Control.
Gaston County Health officials have been notified and Animal Control will be canvassing the immediate area to advise residents of the incident and to verify pet rabies vaccinations.
This represents the first (1st) positive rabies case in Gaston County this year.