The Gaston County Police Department is urging residents to vaccinate their pets against rabies following the 18th confirmed case in the area this year. Last Thursday, a kitten previously quarantined for possible exposure to a rabid animal had to be euthanized after it began showing signs of the disease. Officials reported the kitten likely encountered a skunk with rabies in Cherryville, NC.
The kitten's owner chose to strictly quarantine the animal at a local veterinarian's office, a decision that complied with state regulations designed to keenly monitor and contain the spread of the virus. According to a social media post from Gaston County Police, "The kitten was impounded by Animal Care and Enforcement Specialist on Thursday, and then sent to the NC Laboratory of Public Health in Raleigh on Friday 12/5/25." Subsequent testing confirmed the rabies infection.
While there was no human contact with the rabid skunk, the incident underscores the ongoing concern for pet and public health in the region. Gaston County's Animal Care and Enforcement continues to notify the Gaston County Department Health and Human Services of such incidents and places emphasis on the critical nature of rabies vaccinations.
"The Gaston County Police Department Animal Care and Enforcement Division stresses the importance of having a valid rabies vaccination for all pet’s health and safety, as well as the health and safety of their owners and community," noted the department's post.
