By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Rowan County Animal Control officers reported the 11th and 12th rabies cases of 2009.
On Monday, positive test results came into the agency regarding two rabid raccoons. In one case, the owner’s cats were euthanized and in the other the owner was instructed to give the dog its shots.
Karen Brown of Salisbury reported to Animal Control that a raccoon came onto her property at Mount Hope Church Road and was attacking her cats. She had seven cats that were involved in the attack that were not current on their rabies vaccinations. The animals were held in quarantine at the shelter until test results were conclusive.
The raccoon was submitted for rabies testing and was found to be positive. The seven cats were euthanized at Brown’s request.
Lisa Johnson reported to Animal Control a raccoon came onto her Mount Hope Church Road property and was fighting with her dog.
The dog involved was not current on its vaccination, but because of the high risk of human exposure immediately after the attack, the raccoon was submitted for testing.
The test results came back on Monday and were positive. Johnson was instructed to have the dog reboostered for rabies within a 72-hour period.