HAMILTON - The City of Hamilton says there have been three new cases of raccoon rabies in the city, bringing the total to four that have tested positive for the virus in the past week.

The city's Animal Services division has picked up 14 dead raccoons as it helps the Ministry of Natural Services in an effort to control the raccoon rabies strain that hasn't been detected in Ontario in a decade.

They say the ministry will be expanding its area where it drops rabies vaccine packets in light of the positive tests.

The first raccoon to test positive for the raccoon rabies strain since 2005 only came to light after two dogs got into a fight with a sick animal in the back of an animal services van last week.

The ministry began blitzing the Stoney Creek area with vaccines. That's where the first sick raccoon was found.

The two bull mastiffs remain in quarantine under the city's care as the owners try to figure out if they can afford to board them in isolation for three months or euthanize them.