Staff report
GOLD HILL ó Rowan County recorded its first rabies case Jan. 4, when a Jack Russell terrier named “Nipper” came in contact with a dead raccoon.
Nipper belonged to Michael Pressley of 1610 Morgan Road, and the dog was euthanized at the owner’s request. Nipper had not been current on its rabies vaccination and was held in quarantine until the test results came in.
Pressley reported to Rowan County Animal Control that his dog had been running at large Jan. 4, and he believed it came in contact with a dead raccoon he found lying in his yard.
Rowan County had 16 rabies cases in 2007.