On Friday, July 14, 2023 at approximately 10:00am the Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement unit received a call from 100 block of Maple Circle Belmont, NC 28012 in reference to a juvenile bat found inside a residence.
Animal Care and Enforcement Specialists investigated the incident and impounded the bat on July 18, 2023. The bat was sent to the NC Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh. The official laboratory results were received on July 18, 2023 at approximately 2:00pm indicating that the bat tested positive for rabies.
Animal Care and Enforcement completed a neighborhood canvass in the area of Maple Circle in Belmont, NC 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 this incident, so they can complete their regular follow up investigation.
The Gaston County Police Department Animal Care and Enforcement unit stresses the importance of having a valid rabies vaccination for all of your pet’s health and safety as well as the health and safety of their owners and community.
This represents only the second confirmed rabies case in Gaston County this year.
No further information is available at this time.
