Henry County Animal Care & Control

Love your Own - Leave others alone

With the summer just around the corner, Henry County Animal Care & Control would like everyone to be aware of the wildlife around them and avoid contact with wild animals. It is unusual for wild animals to approach, much less attack humans. So, if citizens are scratched or bitten by a wild animal, they should report the injury to animal control and seek medical attention immediately.

What should you do if an animal bites you?
Seek care promptly after any animal bites you. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for five to ten minutes. Seek medical attention immediately and notify the Henry County Animal Care and Control Department at (770) 288-7387.

How can I protect myself from getting rabies?
Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild or stray animals (including cats) with open garbage cans or pet food left outside.
• Enjoy wild animals (especially raccoons, skunks and foxes) from afar outdoors.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call the animal care and control department for assistance.
• Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone" is a good principle for children to learn.
• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and
  pets.
• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets.( it’s the Law) This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection for you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.
• Don’t use your hands to break up a fight between animals, call animal control.
• Keep your pets under direct supervision and leashed so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and notify the Animal Care and Control Department.
• Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Domestic
animals account for less than 10 percent of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often reported rabid. Dogs and cats over four months of age are required to be vaccinated against rabies and wear a current rabies license tag. Pet ferrets should also be vaccinated.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be prevented but not cured. The virus is spread through saliva and can be passed to another animal or a person, usually through a bite.

Infection may also occur if the saliva enters open wounds, the mouth, or eyes of another animal or person. There is no treatment for rabies after symptoms of the disease appear. However, the rabies vaccine regimen provides immunity to rabies when given after an exposure or for protection before an exposure occurs. Although rabies among humans is rare in the United States, every year an estimated 18,000 people receive rabies pre-exposure vaccinations, and an additional 40,000 receive vaccinations after being exposed to rabies.

All animal bites should be reported to the Henry County Animal Care and Control Department at 770.288.PETS.