Rabid raccoon collected by Animal Services after attacking two vaccinated dogs in Columbia Co.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga (WJBF) – A rabid raccoon has been retrieved after attacking two vaccinated dogs.

According to the Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section, the incident happened on Wednesday, June 19th at Callaway Road Extension off of Hereford Farm Road, which is less than a mile from the Innisbrook Drive neighborhood in Evans.

According to authorities, the raccoon was alter collected by Columbia County Animal Services, and the Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section was notified and sent the raccoon to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory (GPHL) in Waycross, GA for rabies testing.

According to the GPHL, the test did confirm that the raccoon tested positive for rabies.

The Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section recommends the following:

• Make sure your dogs and cats are currently vaccinated against rabies
• Do not let your pets roam free. They are more likely to have contact with a rabid wild animal
• Avoid feeding your animals outside. This draws stray and wild animals to your doorstep
• Teach your children not to approach wild animals and animals they don’t know

The Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section is asking all residents to make sure pets are vaccinated against rabies and to avoid all contact with wild animals and to report any contact of humans and domestic animals with wild animals to Columbia County Health Department Environmental Health Section office at 706-868-3330 or Columbia County Animal Services at 706-541-4077.

For additional information on Rabies refer to these websites: www.fda.gov and www.cdc.govncidod/dvrd/rabies .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.