Morganton, GA – Fannin County Environmental Health officials announced that three local dogs fought and killed a raccoon that has now tested positive for rabies.

 

Shannon Bradburn, local environmental health specialist, stated that a Morganton resident, living near Loving Road in the Hemptown Creek area, called his office Monday, January 11 to report that the incident between the dogs and raccoon occurred outside the residence on Sunday, January 10.

 

Bradburn investigated the incident and found there had been no human contact with the raccoon but also discovered the dogs had not been vaccinated against rabies.

 

Animal Control was contacted to pick up the raccoon on Monday. It was then prepared for testing by a local veterinarian and shipped to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory later that day.

 

Confirmation that the raccoon tested positive for rabies was reported to Bradburn in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 12.

 

Bradburn and other staff have canvassed the neighborhood with information about the incident.

 

Since the dogs were not vaccinated for rabies, the owner must now decide whether to place them in a double-fenced enclosure for six months quarantine or have the dogs euthanized.

 

“The best way to protect against rabies is to maintain rabies vaccinations in your pets,” said Bradburn. “Also, never approach any animal if you do not know whether it is currently vaccinated.”

 

For more information about rabies and rabies prevention, contact the Fannin County Environmental Health office at (706) 632-3024 or log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/features/rabiessafefamily.