The discovery of a rabid fox in Beaufort County underscores the importance of a series of upcoming rabies clinics, said Sandy Woolard, the county’s chief animal-control officer.

The rabid fox, which was acting strange, was found at 519 Slatestone Road, Washington, on Wednesday, according to Woolard. After it was captured and euthanized, Beaufort County Animal Control sent the fox’s body off for testing. It tested positive for rabies.

Woolard said it’s not known if the fox came into contact with any domesticated animals.

Until this latest incident, the last known case of rabies in the county was last year, Woolard said.

“It really is important to have your animals vaccinated for rabies because of situations like this where you have a wild animal that comes into an area where people live, where people reside and they have their domesticated animals,” Woolard said in a brief interview Monday. “If their animal comes into contact with this rabid animal, it can then transfer the disease to them if they are not vaccinated for rabies and then it can be transferred to humans.”

Woolard said the upcoming rabies clinics provide pet owners and owners of other domesticated animals low-cost opportunities to protect their animals, themselves and others against rabies.

“That’s the importance of the rabies clinics because normally a rabies shot will cost anywhere from between $12 and $20, and then you may have a vet-visit fee. I’m not sure how the vets do it,” Woolard said. “This is a low-cost rabies vaccination. This is what we are doing once a year to assist the public, and it’s only $5 a shot.”

“I wouldn’t say there’s a problem, per se. Rabies is out there. I don’t think it’s a major problem at this point, as long as we keep our animals vaccinated and be vigilant of any kind of animals that are acting strangely,” Woolard said.

The rabies clinics (for dogs and cats) are scheduled at the following locations April 30:

ź Belhaven (behind Town Hall/police department), 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

ź Betsy Bailey Nelson Animal Control Facility, 3931 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, 11 a.m. to noon.

ź D&H Home and Garden, 26 Maple Court, Chocowinity, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

ź Aurora Public Works Department (facility is next to police department), Aurora, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The cost is $5 per vaccination.

North Carolina law requires pet owners to have their dogs, cats and ferrets current on their rabies vaccinations. For anyone desiring a three-year rabies vaccination for his or her pet, bring the pet and its current rabies certificate to one of the clinics. Failure to keep pets vaccinated against rabies may result in a fine.