Gilmer County Environmental Health officials are urging residents to ensure pets are vaccinated against rabies after a Talking Rock, Georgia, dog was bitten by a rabid raccoon, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The raccoon fought with the dog outside a home in the Ruby Ridge Drive/Highway 136 area of Talking Rock near the Gilmer-Pickens County Line on September 4th, the release states.
The raccoon was shipped for testing to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory and the positive rabies results have now been reported to the Gilmer County Environmental Health office.
According to Andrea Mathis, county environmental health manager, there was no human exposure to the raccoon, and since the dog’s vaccinations against rabies were up to date, it only required a booster shot and at-home observation for 45 days.
“It’s imperative to maintain rabies vaccinations in our pets, not only for their protection, but to protect ourselves and our families from rabies,” said Mathis. “Once our pets are exposed to rabies, they can expose us, and rabies is virtually 100 percent fatal if not treated before symptoms begin.”