On Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 7:36 pm, Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement responded to a call regarding a sick or injured raccoon at a residence located in the 100 block of Lakeview Drive in Belmont. On January 7, 2023, the raccoon was processed and a rabies specimen was sent to the North Carolina State Lab.
On Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 9:50 am, Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement was notified the raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Animal Care and Enforcement notified the resident and conducted a neighborhood canvas in the area of Lakeview Drive, Belmont, 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 pets 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 animals. The animal could have rabies. Gaston County residents should contact Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement to capture and transport sick animals.
This represents the first confirmed rabies case in Gaston County this year. No further information is available at this time.
#####