Orange County Animal Services just received its seventh positive rabies test this year, according to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.

The incident occurred last week and involved a Mebane resident who found a fox aggressively interacting with her dog, and then found the same fox dead in a nearby donkey pin the next day.

The dog at the property had received its current rabies vaccinations and was able to also receive a booster rabies vaccination after the incident.

The law in North Carolina requires all dogs, cats and ferrets older than four months to have a current and valid rabies vaccination at all times and pets must be revaccinated in at least 96 hours if exposed.

Officials are encouraging residents to take advantage of low-cost rabies vaccination clinics taking place this weekend.

The next clinics will take place Thursday, September 28, 2017, from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. at the Farmer’s Market on Margaret Lane in Hillsborough and Saturday, September 30, 2017, from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. at Orange County Animal Services.

Both clinics will offer one and three-year rabies vaccines for $10 and microchips for $35.

Three-year vaccines require proof of previous vaccination.

According to Orange County Animal Services, rabies can also be transmitted through secondary exposure, so residents should not touch animals without gloves if they have had any possible exposure to rabies.

The most common host species for rabies are raccoons and bats.

Orange County Animal Services says residents who find a rabies suspect should not attempt to catch the animal but should keep visual contact with the animal until Animal Control arrives.

Residents who discover bats inside their homes should always call Animal Control immediately, be sure not to release the bat and remove themselves and any animals from the area.

Clinic dates for all of 2017 and clinic requirements are posted here.

For more information, please call Orange County Animal Services at 919.942.7387 (PETS).

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