HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — A raccoon found last week by an Orange County animal control officer has tested positive for rabies.

The animal was found last Friday in the vicinity of Dodson's Crossroads and Dairyland Road after it was spotted near a dog and a horse.

The raccoon had been shot when animal control officers arrived to take the animal.

This is the second positive rabies test for Orange County in 2006, both of which were for raccoons.

In 2005, there was a total of 23 positive rabies tests in the county. All but five of those involved raccoons; the remainder were for two foxes, a bat, a beaver and a dog.

To help prevent pets from being infected with the disease and to ensure they are vaccinated against rabies, the Orange County Animal Services Department is offering low-cost rabies clinics Saturday, Feb. 11 at Paws and Claws on Normans Road in Rougemont.

The vaccination fee is $5, which must be paid in cash. More information is available by calling

(919) 245-2075

or by visiting the Animal Services

Web site

.