Henry County Animal Care & Control

RABIES ALERT

Dear Resident,

This is to inform you of a raccoon attack in the area of 425 Brannan Road in McDonough. A raccoon attacked a dog living at this address and the dog killed the animal which was then sent off to the State for testing. Results from the test show that this animal is positive for the rabies virus. A 1 half mile area quarantine has been issued surrounding this address.

• As a matter of public safety, we ask that you do the following; If you own a pet, it is important that it has a current rabies vaccine. Georgia law requires that all dogs and cats 12 weeks of age or older have a current rabies vaccine administered by a licensed veterinarian.
• Abide by the Henry County Animal Control Ordinance by keeping your pets physically confined on your property or on a leash. Roaming pets are more likely to be exposed to rabies without the owner's knowledge. Keeping your pets indoors offers the best protection, but if your dog spends time outdoors unsupervised, visible fencing will not only keep your dog at home, it can help protect your dog from other animals. Outdoor cats are more vulnerable as they are not as easily confined by a fence. The best protection your cat, in addition to vaccination, is to stay indoors.
• REPORT any loose dogs and cats as well as any animal behaving in an abnormal manner to the Henry County Animal Care and Control Department.
• DO NOT approach or handle any wild animal. This is especially true for raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats and coyotes. Almost any animal will attack if cornered or threatened. Avoid wild animals, especially if they appear friendly. If you find an animal tha
• If your dog, cat or other domestic animal has been bitten or attacked by a wild animal, report the incident to Henry County Animal Care and Control so that the circumstances can be evaluated and appropriate action taken. (Wildlife that are at the highest risk for rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes. A bite from a rabbit, squirrel, rat, chipmunk, or mouse rarely calls for concern. Since 1977, Georgia has not even accepted these animals for testing unless the bite was unprovoked. Also, opossum are highly resistant to infection by the rabies virus and a bite or scratch from an opossum constitutes little, if any, risk.)
  

Report any animal to human bite to Henry County Animal Care and Control as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call. I can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm at (770) 288-7401.