Community Corner

Rabies: Is Your Family and Pets Worth the Risk?

The Paulding County Marshal Bureau and Animal Control Department encourages pet vaccinations.

From Paulding County Animal Control

Rabies is a real threat in the area. In 2014, Paulding County has experienced two confirmed rabies cases thus far with one being a raccoon and one fox.

Several counties in Metro Atlanta have also reported confirmed rabies cases and Henry County had to quarantine a community this week.

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According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC): Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies.

Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.

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Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.

There is no known, effective treatment for rabies once the symptoms of the illness have developed. Rabies can be prevented in humans if medical care is sought soon after an exposure to the rabies virus. If left untreated, rabies is always deadly.

By getting a rabies vaccination for your pet, you ensure the safety and health of your pet and family. If your pet is vaccinated for rabies, then your pet cannot contract the disease and possibly infect other animals or humans.

The Paulding County Marshal Bureau and Animal Control Department wants your family and pets to be safe and healthy. The cost of a Rabies Vaccination ranges from about $10 to $25 at local veterinarians and there are various free vaccination programs offered in the area throughout the year.


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