Ray Funderburk reported to the Rowan County Animal Control this week that a raccoon attacked a stray cat that he’d taken in.
Funderburk told officials that he killed the raccoon at his Lippard Road home. The cat came to him as a stray so he did not know if it was current on its vaccines.
The cat was held in quarantine pending notification of test results.
Animal Control received the raccoon Dec. 24. The raccoon was submitted for testing Dec. 28 and results returned Tuesday.
According to Animal Control, Funderburk was told the raccoon was positive for rabies. The cat was euthanized. This is the 21st case of rabies reported this year in Rowan County.