Ellijay (GA) – A 7-year old male Boxer in Ellijay fought and killed a raccoon that has since tested positive for rabies. Because the dog was not current on its rabies vaccination, it is now undergoing a six-month strict quarantine.

There was no human exposure.

Gilmer County Environmental Manager Andrea Martin reported that the fight between the dog and the raccoon occurred on January 16, 2013 at a residence on Raspberry Court off Highway 382 in Ellijay.

The raccoon was tested for rabies at the Georgia Department of Public Health Laboratory on January 17, and the positive rabies result was reported on January 18.

Health officials urge residents to maintain current rabies vaccinations in their pets, not only for the sake of the pet, but to also protect themselves and their family from rabies.

Rabies that goes untreated is fatal almost 100 percent of the time.

For more information about rabies, please contact Gilmer County Environmental Health at (706) 635-6050 or log onto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov.