Orange County has received another positive case of rabies, according to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health, marking 10 cases this year.
Orange County Animal Services reports this incident originated on Wednesday when Hillsborough residents noticed their dog had been sprayed by a skunk. One of the residents shot and killed the skunk before calling Animal Control.
The dog had to euthanized because the owners had not had their dog’s rabies vaccine updated.
North Carolina law requires animals that are not vaccinated and come into contact with a rabid animals be quarantined for six months at the owner’s expense or euthanized.
A dog or cat with a current rabies vaccination must only receive a booster shot within five days of any suspected rabies exposure.
This year’s number of cases is a major drop from 2014 when 23 positive cases were reported.
There were 12 positive cases in both 2012 and 2013.
The next low-cost rabies vaccination clinic will take place on Saturday, January 23, from nine o’clock in the morning until noon at the Animal Services Center on Ebuanks Road. Rabies vaccines will be $10.
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