Possible rabid fox captured at Mount Airy Town Park

MT. AIRY - A possible rabid animal was captured Friday afternoon on the outer fringe of the public park in Mt. Airy.<br /> <br /> Habersham County Animal Care and Control Director Madi Hawkins said she captured the suspected rabid fox with a catch pole in the outer fringes of Mount Airy Town Park after being notified by police.<br /> <br /> Due to the holiday weekend, rabies test results on the fox will not be immediately available.<br /> <br /> "We won't have the results until next week because of the holiday," Hawkins said. <br /> <br /> Hawkins said it is unclear who will pay for the test because there is no known contact with another animal or a person.<br /> <br /> "The CDC will not usually test without exposure, but with the area it was found I think it's important that we have confirmation one way or another," Hawkins said.<br /> <br /> Hawkins said the fox was foaming at the mouth, so she feels it's important to get a definitive answer - even if it means paying for it from the animal shelter budget.<br /> <br /> "Our shelter budget is so tight and every penny counts," Hawkins said. "It's not required we test animals with no contact, but this particular case is unique."<br /> <br /> The animal was euthanized after Hawkins captured it.<br /> <br /> Mt. Airy Police Chief Corey Allen said Friday night the fox actually was located in a water ditch on the lower tier of the park, across from 123 Bottle Shop, in an area only used for overflow parking. <br /> <br /> Allen stressed the animal was not inside the hilltop park, where the picnic shelter, paved walking trail and playground are located.<br /> <br /> Hawkins said animal control is not usually responsible for paying to test animals for rabies. That responsibility falls to the health department, if there has been contact with a person or another animal.<br /> <br /> Still, Hawkins is hopeful that because of the potential public exposure to this fox at a small public park, the health department will see fit to cover the cost of the rabies test.

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