HILLSBOROUGH - Three five-month-old puppies that may have come in contact with a rabid raccoon are being quarantined while their owners decide their fate.

Residents in the New Sharon Church Road and Schley Road area, northeast of Hillsborough, spotted the raccoon with the mother dog Sunday. Although the puppies were not directly seen with the raccoon, there was no way to exclude the possibility. The raccoon later tested positive for rabies.

The mother dog was currently vaccinated against rabies. According to state law, a dog or cat with a current vaccination must receive a booster shot within 72 hours of any suspected rabies exposure. By contrast, unvaccinated pets suspected of being exposed to the rabies virus must either be destroyed or quarantined for six months. In this case, the three puppies had not been vaccinated and have been temporarily quarantined while their owners determine what to do.

This is the fourth confirmed rabies case this year in Orange County. Last year, there were 19 positive rabies tests, and in 2006 there were 27 positive tests.