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CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. — Animal Control officers are asking residents to make sure their pets rabies shots are up to date after a rabid raccoon was found in a Cumberland County neighborhood.
Earlier this week, a dog in the Rivercliff Subdivision came home to its owner with a raccoon in her mouth. The raccoon tested positive for rabies.
The dog's rabies shot expired last May, so she is being held at Cumberland County Animal Control for observation.
According to state law, the dog's owner has the choice of putting the dog to sleep or paying $3,000 to have the pet quarantined for six months to see if it develops rabies.
Animal Control officers are asking residents to check their records and make sure their pets rabies shots are up to date. Sgt. Jonny Smith said that a $15 rabies shot could have prevented the owner from having to make such a decision.
In the mid-1990s, Cumberland County had a rabies epidemic. The county reported 118 cases in 1995.
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