Guilford County Department of Public Health is alerting citizens that a fox found on Spur Road in Pleasant Garden on July 25 tested positive for the rabies virus on July 26.  This is the twelfth case of rabies in Guilford County this year.  The fox exposed two dogs; only one animal had a current rabies vaccination.

Merle Green, Health Director states, “Our Animal Control staff are answering more calls, conducting more rabies clinics and vaccinating more domestic pets than ever. Still, the number of unvaccinated pets remains too high.”  North Carolina’s State Veterinarian Dr. Carl Williams estimates more than 60 percent of our domestic pets are not vaccinated against rabies.  Guilford County records reflect this same statistic.

The Department of Public Health is urging citizens to take advantage of the next low cost rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, August 11, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Gander Mountain store, 2223 Vanstory Street in Greensboro, NC.  Rabies vaccination shots are $5.00 each and will protect the animal for one calendar year.  Upcoming rabies vaccination clinic dates and times include:

Saturday, September 8, 2007 - World Rabies Day, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Gibsonville Fire Department, 6619 NC 61 North, Gibsonville, NC.

Sunday, September 16, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Emerald Pointe Water Park, 3910 S. Holden Rd., Greensboro, NC.

Saturday, October 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Pleasant Garden Community Center, 5024 Alliance Church Rd., Pleasant Garden, NC.

Saturday, November 10, 2007, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Gander Mountain, 2223 Vanstory St., Greensboro, NC.

Practice rabies prevention and visit your local veterinarian or one of the Department of Public Health’s low cost rabies vaccination clinics to protect your pet against this deadly virus. 

For more information regarding rabies or educational programs available, please contact the Guilford County Department of Public Health at 641-7777.