Habersham County Animal Care and Control is again urging pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies after two more cases of the virus were confirmed in the county this week.
HCACC director Madi Hawkins says both incidents involved dogs killing raccoons. Test results received December 15th show both raccoons had rabies.
The first case came to Animal Control’s attention Tuesday when officers were notified about four dogs running loose by the Habersham County Courthouse on Standford Mill Road in Clarkesville. In an emailed notice to the media Hawkins says, “While Animal Control was securing the animals in their fence, which the four dogs had jumped over, an Officer witnessed a deceased raccoon in the fenced in yard that the dogs reside (in) which appeared to have injuries consistent with a canine attack.”
Hawkins says the dogs were current on their rabies vaccinations and are now in a 45 day, in-home observation.
Two other dogs in Cornelia weren’t so lucky.
Hawkins says they were not current on their vaccinations and had to be euthanized after killing a rabid raccoon on Hidden Springs Trail.
HCACC reminds pet owners that keeping your pets current on rabies vaccinations is both state and local law. “An inexpensive, yearly vaccination would have prevented the unnecessary death of these pets,” says Hawkins. “There are various low costs options available and staff (at HCACC) would be more than happy to assist residents in finding resources.”
Habersham County Animal Care and Control can be reached at 706-839-0195.
