A Chapel Hill resident's dog fought with a skunk in her yard near Dairyland Road and Albert Road. The dog killed the skunk, which later tested positive for rabies by Animal Control.
The dog had a current rabies vaccination and was able to receive a booster shot within the required 96-hour window.
An unvaccinated animal must either be destroyed or quarantined for a period of up to four months. The dog's owner talked to a nurse, who evaluated her risk for rabies exposure.
Experts said they think the skunk contracted rabies from a raccoon. The County recorded a total of nine positive cases of rabies last year and six the year before.