5 receiving rabies treatment due to rabid cat in SE Roanoke

By: Karen McNew | WSLS 10
Published: July 06, 2009

The orange and white stray cat was brought to Vinton Veterinary Hospital on June 26th and tested positive for rabies four days later.

A notice went up on neighbors doors in the Garden City area of Roanoke City. The cat had been seen in the 1500 block of Hillview Avenue.

Heather Reed is a Veterinary Technician at Vinton Veterinary Hospital and now has to undergo rabies shots after being bitten by the rabid cat.

She says, "I was at home when the health department called me and um got a little frantic because i am five months pregnant and i didn't know how that would affect me."

Reed is one of three people who work at the vet clinic and had to get shots because of the rabid cat.

Someone brought the stray cat here to Vinton Veterinary Hospital because it had wounds on its paws. It was acting aggressive when it got to the facility. Then it got sicker and was euthanized. When the test was sent off for rabies, it came back positive.

WSLS 10 has learned the cat that tested positive had been at seen at a home that has had five visits from animal control because of calls about problems with stray cats. An animal control officer also had to start rabies shots as a precaution.

Roanoke Health Department Contact Information:
(540) 857-7800 ext 131
Weekends or evenings:
(540) 858-1865
Roanoke Animal Control:
(540) 853-1158 or 911.

Link to more 10 On Your Side Information about Rabies.