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An incident involving a rabid raccoon in the Gene Nix Road area is White County's second confirmed rabies case of the year.
An incident involving a rabid raccoon in the Gene Nix Road area is White County's second confirmed rabies case of the year.
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, a pet sitter let two dogs out of a house before hearing a noise coming from the yard a few minutes later when the dogs were seen fighting with a raccoon, according to White County Environmental Health Manager Sean Sullivan. The sitter got the dogs back into the house, away from the raccoon, which fled and was found dead the following day.
The incident was then reported to Sullivan's office. He retrieved the raccoon around 4 p.m. that day, and the animal was sent to the Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur. The state lab shared confirmation of a positive rabies test around 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, he says.
Both dogs involved in the incident were current on rabies vaccinations, Sullivan says, though an observational quarantine of 45 days is still required.
Positive alert signs have been posted in the area where the rabid raccoon was located. Those who live in this area and have concerns of rabid animal exposure should contact White County Environmental Health at 706-348-7698 during normal business hours.
Animal owners are encouraged to vaccinate their domesticated pets for rabies. Please call a local veterinarian for an appointment.