We just got a message from Dr. James Davis at the Montrose Animal Hospital about an unfortunate situation involving one of his clients, after the family dog killed a wild raccoon that wandered into the backyard and began acting aggressively around the pet and children. 
The Cobb Department of Animal Services claimed the dead raccoon and determined it had rabies. The dog, sadly, was not current on rabies vaccinations and was euthanized.
Davis said all this happened less than a mile from his clinic on Woodlawn Drive, making the circumstances even more heartbreaking. Here’s part of a note he sent out to his clients, especially urging them to take precautions with spring and summer weather approaching and more outdoor activities commencing:
Even if your pet has adequate immunity from the Rabies virus, Animal Control treats cases differently based the currency of vaccine given. In other words, if the rabies vaccine is past due and a bite or other incident occurs, stricter rules will apply.
The rabid raccoon represents a population of animals in the area with the virus. We don’t need to be afraid to leave our houses, but we all need to be aware of the possibilities.
Feeding wildlife or stray animals invites more interaction with animals that potentially carry infectious diseases.
If you are concerned about wildlife or strays, please, call Cobb County Animal Control at 770-499-4136 or Fulton County Animal Control at 404-613-0358.
Here’s more on wildlife issues, including how to handle wild animals that come into your presence, and how to protect your pets from them, from Cobb Animal Services.
The county says it doesn’t respond to individual wildlife calls, but will respond if an animal is injured or becomes a public safety threat.
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