A dozen dogs rescued last month from a home near Covington now face a new potential threat -- rabies.

On Aug. 31, officials from the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office and from Clifton Forge and Covington animal control agencies responded to a residence where more than 15 dogs had been uncared for since their owner's death on Aug. 23.

The dogs, mostly black and tan coon hounds, were found emaciated and in a state of neglect. Some were too weak to walk on their own. Two dogs on the property were dead, one was unable to recover and 14 were treated at clinics in Troutville and Richmond. One of them later gave birth to a litter of five puppies.

On Monday, the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office said that one of the animals involved died Thursday; on Saturday the cause of death was determined to be rabies.

The Virginia Department of Health is now working to trace five adult dogs from the incident who were released to the American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue Association in Richmond, the sheriff's office said.

"As soon as the tests came back positive, everybody was notified," said Jill Deegan, a Botetourt County assistant commonwealth's attorney who specializes in animal cases and is a member of the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force. Ten people who may have been exposed to the rabies were treated but, Deegan said, "a large number of those people had already had pre-exposure shots."

She said a second dog from the group showed symptoms Monday and was euthanized.

Anyone with concerns about possible exposure to rabies is urged to call the local health department.