In Gaston County, a second case of rabies for the year 2025 has been confirmed, following an incident involving two family dogs and a rabies-infected raccoon. The encounter occurred last Wednesday, when the dogs killed a raccoon at their home on the 1300 block of Dumbarton Road in Gastonia. The dogs, current on their rabies vaccinations, both received a booster shot after the incident. No humans were reported to have come into contact with the raccoon.
The alert came after Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement responded to the report of the dogs' interaction with the raccoon, according to the official Gaston County Government report. Following the initial call, the raccoon was impounded and sent to the NC Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh for testing, which, confirmed the animal was rabid.
Post confirmation of rabies on Friday, Animal Care and Enforcement Specialists conducted a neighborhood canvass in the Dumbarton Road vicinity. The effort aimed to inform residents about the incident, the rabid raccoon, and to check local pets' vaccination statuses. Gaston County Health Department was also notified as a precautionary measure, underscoring the critical nature of maintaining pets' vaccinations for their health, and safety as well as the community's well-being.
The Gaston County Police Department is emphasizing the importance of valid rabies vaccinations for all pets. It is not just for their protection but for the safety of their owners, and the community at large.
