Rabid Raccoon Attacks Dog In Douglasville: Officials

DOUGLASVILLE, GA—Douglas County Animal Services is issuing a warning to residents in the area of Bomar Road and Pope Road in Douglasville after a raccoon recently tested positive for rabies.

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Douglas County officials said a raccoon attacked a dog. On Friday, Jan. 17, Douglas County Animal Control Officers captured the raccoon and said it tested positive for rabies on Jan.21.

The dog is confined and currently under a 45-day quarantine period, officials said. A second dog may have been exposed and is also under a 45-day quarantine. This is the first rabies case of 2020. There were 5 cases in all of 2019.

If your pets are not vaccinated for rabies, officials are urging pet owners to have them vaccinated now. They also are encouraging pet owners to take the necessary precautions:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for your pet.
• Keep your cats indoors and keep your dogs on a leash when outside.
• Don't leave food or garbage outside that may attract wild animals.
• Stay away from wild animals and do not feed them.

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals transmitted in the saliva of an infected animal, health officials said. It is transmitted when the infected animal bites another mammal. Rabies in humans is 100 percent preventable by vaccination, officials said.

In the United States, the rabies virus is mostly spread by wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. The rabies virus is endemic in Georgia, officials warned. If you see wildlife or domesticated dogs and cats acting strange, please call Animal Control at 770-942-5961.