By Lee Ann Sides Garrett
Salisbury Post
Rowan County Animal Control officers report a dog owned by a local man had to be euthanized after an encounter with a rabid raccoon.
Officials say Joe Jenkins of 7855 Stokes Ferry Road reported his two dogs attacked and killed a raccoon. Current rabies vaccination information was available on only one of the dogs.
Apollo, a Great Dane, was held in quarantine at Salisbury Animal Hospital pending rabies testing results on the dog and the raccoon.
This is the second rabies case this year, and Apollo is the second dog to come in contact with a rabid raccoon.
A Jack Russell terrier was euthanized on Jan. 4 after contact with a rabid raccoon. Rowan County had 16 rabies cases in 2007.
After being informed of positive test results, Apollo was euthanized at Jenkins’ request.