Gaston County officials have confirmed the seventh and eighth rabies cases of the year – a cat that lived in Stanley and a raccoon in Belmont.
Gaston County police said their Animal Control officers were called Friday by Lineberger Veterinary Hospital, asking that a cat be tested for the disease, a nerve-related virus that is fatal in most cases to humans.
The Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Gaston County euthanized the cat, which was owned by a Stanley woman who lives on Hickory Grove Road, and sent the animal to Raleigh for testing at the state lab.
On Wednesday, police announced that state officials found that the cat tested positive for rabies.
Also on Wednesday, authorities learned that a raccoon attacked this week by two dogs was rabid.
On Monday, a man living on Eastwood Drive in Belmont called Animal Control officers to report that his dog and a stray dog had killed a raccoon on his property, police said.
The man’s dog was current on its rabies vaccination, but police said the stray dog was impounded and the raccoon carcass was sent for rabies testing. On Wednesday, laboratory officials confirmed the raccoon was rabid.
Gaston County health officials plan to canvass the area near Hickory Grove Road in Stanley and Eastwood Drive in Belmont to talk with residents and make sure pets have been vaccinated against rabies.
