DEMOREST — Three dogs in Demorest are in a 45-day quarantine after being exposed to a rabid raccoon earlier this week.
Habersham County Animal Care and Control Director Madi Hawkins notified AccessWDUN after informing Demorest Mayor Rick Austin of the findings received after the close of business Thursday night, Nov. 1.
“The exposure occurred on Holly Street in the Demorest city limits in the early afternoon Oct. 30,” Hawkins said. “Three canines, all Pit Bull mixes that were housed together, were exposed to a raccoon that tested positive for the rabies virus.”
The dogs will remain in quarantine for observation throughout the next month and a half.
“All three dogs had a vaccine history, but were not current,” Hawkins said.
This is only the third confirmed case of rabies in Habersham County thus far in 2018, according to Hawkins.
“We encourage citizens to make sure their pets are current on their vaccinations and to be alert for any animal behavior that seems suspicious or abnormal,” Austin said. “Anything that seems abnormal should be reported to animal control.”
Austin said Demorest is susceptible to rabid animals.
“We have an elevated population of both fox and raccoon in our city, and those are species are particularly at risk for rabies.”
