Just seven days after a fox tested positive for rabies in an area near Fleet Cooper Road, Sampson County sheriff’s officials have reported a second case. The report came Tuesday morning, this one of a rabid raccoon found in the northern end of the county.

According to information released Tuesday, on Nov. 17, around 3:30 p.m., a homeowner in the 500-block of Midway Elementary School Road looked out of her window to see her family dog attacking a raccoon. During the attack, the raccoon was able to bite the dog multiple times.

The 46-year-old homeowner shot and killed the raccoon and immediately called law enforcement. Animal Control officials collected the raccoon and sent it to the state lab in Raleigh to check it for rabies. The test came back positive.

The homeowner, a 9-year-old male and a 17-year-old female, were all in contact with the dog after the attack and were given the proper medical attention.

The family dog lived and was treated for his injuries, as well as the rabies.

According to officials with Sampson County Animal Control, this was the fourth report of suspected rabies incidents in the county this year.

State law mandates dogs, cats and ferrets have their rabies shots at 4 months of age and it can only be done by a licensed veterinarian. The animal will need to go back to get a booster shot in a year and then every three years after that. Sampson County Animal Control officers do enforce the law throughout the county.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.