WARNING! Henry County issues another rabies alert

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Henry County animal control issued its fourth rabies alert Tuesday after two dogs attacked a raccoon and one of the dogs was euthanized.

On Tuesday, Channel 2’s Craig Lucie went to McDonough,  where a rabies control officer told him a homeowner had heard something loud outside over the weekend.

“She heard a ruckus, went outside and found two dogs brought up a dead raccoon,” Henry County rabies control officer Vince Farah said.

The incident happened in the Country Meadows Court subdivision, where neighbors are just finding out their neighborhood is under a rabies alert.

“I will definitely be more alert, I’ll tell you that. It might have been around but I didn’t pay attention,” concerned neighbor Lamar Staton said.

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Lucie watched as animal control put up a rabies alert sign near the entrance to the subdivision.

“There was one at Lake Dowell last year,” concerned dog owner Jimmy Breeding said.

Lucie knocked on the door of the home where the rabid raccoon had been found, but no one answered,

The dog’s owner told animal control she didn’t want to be interviewed.

On Tuesday afternoon, Farah told Lucie that the dog owner put down both of her dogs.

“That’s something the owner chose to do versus a six-month quarantine,” Farah said.

Neighbors said they’re not surprised. In the meantime, they are keeping their pets inside.

“I’m very concerned. I keep mine in the house. They are inside dogs,” Breeding said.

Henry County Animal Control said anyone living within 1.5 miles of the neighborhood where the rabid animal was found will need to have their pets vaccinated or revaccinated.

Pet owners will have to monitor their pets closely for the next 45 days.

Cox Media Group