Habersham County Animal Care and Control (HCACC) has confirmed the county’s third positive rabies case of the year.
The case stems from a September 5 incident on Level Grove Road in Cornelia. Animal Control officers responded to a call about a skunk that was “acting aggressively.” According to the report, the skunk came into physical contact with both a kitten and the caller before it was found dead at the scene.
The animal was submitted to the CDC State Laboratory for testing through Habersham County Environmental Health. Results received on September 9 confirmed the skunk was rabid.
HCACC Director Madi Nix said the case is a reminder of the importance of keeping pets’ vaccinations up to date. “Dogs and cats who receive an initial rabies vaccination are not considered immunized until 28 days after the vaccine has been administered; therefore, it is strongly recommended that any animal newly vaccinated or those too young to receive the vaccine (less than three months) not be left outdoors unattended,” Nix said.
How to protect yourself and your pets
HCACC urges the public to take the following precautions in order to protect themselves, their loved ones, and pets:
- Keep rabies vaccinations current for dogs and cats.
- Do not allow pets to roam freely where they may encounter wildlife.
- Avoid feeding or touching wild animals, especially bats, skunks, raccoons, or foxes.
- Seek immediate medical attention if bitten or exposed to the saliva of a wild animal.
- Contact a veterinarian if a pet comes into contact with potentially rabid wildlife.
- Avoid feeding unmanaged cat colonies; if you do feed cats, ensure they are part of a vaccinated trap-neuter-return (TNR) colony.
To learn more about rabies, visit the CDC Rabies Resource Page.
