An aggressive fox found deceased in a donkey pen last week is the seventh confirmed rabies case in Orange County this year.
A Mebane resident spotted the fox acting hostile with her dog the day before. The dog had been vaccinated for rabies, meaning it required a booster shot within 96 hours of exposure.
If a dog, cat or ferret exposed to rabies is unvaccinated, they must be either quarantined for up to four months, or euthanized.
Bob Marotto, director of Orange County animal services, said he felt this case illustrated the importance of vaccinating pets.
“By vaccinating our dogs and our cats, we are ensuring their health, and we are also ensuring the health of the human community and the public,” he said.
Marotto said he does not feel there is anything the people of Orange County can do to prevent the presence of rabies in wildlife, but he does feel they can do a lot to minimize their exposure.
“I would say rabies is a fact of life here in mid-Atlantic States,” Marotto said. “We always need to be on guard, we always need to be sure we are vaccinating our pets and managing ourselves and our pets to ensure their safety and health."
Professor of public law and government Aimee Wall said laws have changed to allow more flexibility for how the county health director manages exposures.
“It is still absolutely essential (pets) initially get their vaccines," she said. "That is the thing that is the saving grace under the law."
