LENOIR, NC (February 8, 2023) — On February 8, 2022, the North Carolina State Laboratory notified Caldwell County Animal Care Enforcement that a skunk submitted for testing was infected with the rabies virus. The skunk was found on Taylor Circle in Granite Falls when it contacted a dog. The dog is up to date on its rabies vaccine.
This is the first confirmed rabies case in the county this year. Caldwell County had five confirmed rabies cases in 2022.
People can protect themselves and their pets from rabies by taking a few simple precautions:
- Make sure all your companion animals are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. They should always wear their license tags.
- Supervise your pets to prevent exposure.
- If your animal is exposed to a potentially rabid animal wear gloves to protect yourself from the infectious saliva that may be on your animal’s coat.
- Teach your children to stay away from wild animals, including bats or animals they don’t know.
- Avoid attracting wildlife to your home by removing food sources such as food scraps and removing cat and dog food at night.
If there are any questions concerning rabies and/or receiving a rabies vaccination, please contact the Animal Care Enforcement at 180 Government Way, Lenoir, NC 28645 or call 828-572-4535. If there is an emergency outside the normal working hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, please notify the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office at 828-758-2324.
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