BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A 14-year-old lab will be “humanely euthanized” after being attacked by a rabid raccoon off of Stone Chimney Road recently.

The raccoon attacked the dog in the Supply area on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Brunswick County Health Department. The raccoon was reportedly shot by the dog’s owner and sent to the state lab for testing.

The results came back positive on Thursday, the news release stated.

The dog was not current on its rabies vaccination and the owner was given the option of having his dog quarantined for six months at his expense. If the dog was current on its rabies vaccination, it would have just need a booster vaccination.

The Brunswick County Health Department supplied the following precautions to avoid exposure to rabies:

• Make sure all pets (cats and dogs) have been vaccinated and keep the vaccinations current.
• Do not harbor or feed stray dogs and cats. This provides a possible means of transmission of the rabies virus from wildlife (raccoons and foxes, etc.) to human beings.
• Reports and seek treatment for all animal bites (legally required).

For more information, call 910-754-8204.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

CASWELL BEACH, NC (WECT) – On Saturday, Save the Cape posted photos to its Facebook page of an alligator that was spotted on Caswell Beach.

The post said the gator was near the shore at the Ocean Greens entrance.

To see more photos of the alligator, click here.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) — The water quality swimming advisory has been liften because water testing showed that bacteria levels have dropped below the state and Enviornmental Protection Agency's standards set for swimming and water play.

Original news release

An advisory against swimming was posted Thursday, Sept. 22 for the public park on Fish Factory Road near Southport, according to Patricia Smith, the Public Information Officer for the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

State officials reportedly found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state and Environmental Protection Agency's recreational water quality standards.

The beach is not closed. A sign was posted at the location that reads:

ATTENTION SWIMMING IN THIS AREA IS NOT RECOMMENDED. BACTERIA TESTING INDICATES LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION THAT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. THIS ADVISORY AFFECTS WATERS WITHIN 200’ OF THIS SIGN. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR

People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the action level have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections, according to the news release.