GASTONIA, N.C. - On Tuesday, November 13 at 10:20 p.m., the Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement responded to a call regarding a cat that attacked a resident in the 800 block of Fairview Drive in Mt. Holly. The resident was bitten and scratched during the attack. Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement collected the cat for processing. On November 14, 2022, the cat was processed and a rabies specimen was sent to the North Carolina State Lab.

On Wednesday, November 15, 2022 at 11:46 a.m., Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement was notified the cat tested positive for rabies.

Animal Care and Enforcement notified the resident and conducted a neighborhood canvas in the area of Fairview Drive, Mt. Holly, to notify the community of the positive rabies result and to verify rabies vaccinations for family animals in the area. Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement also notified the Gaston County Department Health and Human Services.

The Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement stresses the importance of having an up-to-date rabies vaccination for all of your pets. By keeping your pet’s current on their rabies vaccines, you are protecting them from contracting the disease from wildlife and spreading the disease to your family and other animals, and people in the community. Furthermore, it is important to never handle or transport sick animals. The animal could have rabies. Gaston County residents should contact Gaston County Police Animal Care and Enforcement to capture and transport sick animals.

This represents the twelfth confirmed rabies case in Gaston County this year.