District Two Public Health issues warning regarding rabies

This has been a bad summer for incidents of rabies in our area and now District Two Public Health is warning people to be careful of certain wild animals that could be carriers.

According to District Two Public Health spokesman Dave Palmer, residents should take precautions to protect themselves, their children and pets from this deadly disease.

In Stephens County, Environmental Health Director Shad Slocum said most of the confirmed cases of rabies in the county this year have been in skunks.

Slocum said of those cases two involved family pets as well.

And in Franklin County, Environmental Health Director Louis Korff said on September 27 a couple of incidents in which two litters of feral kittens and adult cats were being fed by some kind-hearted people.

Korff said the kittens and cats were attacked by skunks that turned out to have rabies.

Consequently, all of the surviving kittens and cats, as well as the skunks, had to be euthanized.

Palmer said skunks, raccoons and feral cats have been the most common rabies carriers in our area this year.

That’s why Slocum says it’s important to make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies.

And if you missed a chance last spring to get your pet vaccinated against rabies, you will have another chance coming up later this month.

On Saturday, October 21 the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter in Lavonia will be holding their fall low-cost rabies clinic at the shelter from 10a to 3p.

Rabies vaccines will be $5 for dogs and cats for a one-year shot and $10 for a 3-year.

Pet owners from all Northeast Georgia counties are welcome to bring their pets and take advantage of the low-cost rabies clinic.