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Rabid Cat Found at Kangaroo Gas Station on State Farm Road; Watauga Health Department Seeks Three Females

July 18, 2012. Appalachian District Health Department has received a report of a group of three females in a Ford F150 truck, either green and tan or brown and tan in color, who left a striped black and brown thin cat on Thursday, July 12 approximately 4:30 p.m. at the Kangaroo gas station and convenience center at State Farm Road in Boone. This cat was later taken to the Watauga Humane Society and soon after tested positive for rabies.

It is critical that these three individuals, and anyone else who may have come in contact with this animal between the dates of June 29, 2012, to July 15, 2012, contact the Watauga County Health Department immediately for a rabies risk-assessment at 828-264-4995.

Rabies is a terrible, but preventable disease, and contact with stray animals may put you and your family at risk.  If you determine there is a stray animal in your area, contact your animal control office for further guidance. It is best to be cautious and avoid direct contact with stray animals. Even when a pet may look healthy, the risk of rabies may still exist. Please spay and neuter your pets and keep their rabies vaccination up to date.