Habersham officials confirm rabies case

CLARKESVILLE - Habersham County has its first confirmed rabies case for 2014.

Habersham County Animal Care and Control Director Madi Hawkins said Monday night that a raccoon tested positive.

"The incident happened on March 11," Hawkins said. "We got the results back this afternoon."

The raccoon had contact with a Jack Russell-mix dog in the 3900 block of Georgia Highway 197, south of Ivy Mountain Road, between Clarkesville and Batesville.

The dog's owner was able to shoot the raccoon, which was sent off for testing.

"The dog was current on its rabies vaccinations," Hawkins said. "It will be under a 45-day quarantine then will be fine if it shows no symptoms of rabies."

Hawkins said this is the first confirmed case of rabies in the county so far this year.

A case from a Dec. 28 encounter with pets was confirmed in January. In that case, two dogs had to be euthanized after contact with a rabid skunk. Those dogs were not current on rabies vaccinations.

As always, Hawkins reminds pet owners to have their animals vaccinated.

"It's Georgia state law to have them vaccinated," Hawkins said. "It's more to protect your animal than it is to protect the people around your animal."