First 2013 rabies case confirmed in Winder

The year’s first local case of an animal infected with the rabies virus was confirmed this week in a raccoon that on Jan. 22 attacked at least one family dog off Alexander Street in Winder.

A Winder police officer responding to a noise complaint about barking dogs in the vicinity found the sick raccoon, which was behaving aggressively, and destroyed it. Testing confirmed the animal had been infected with the lethal virus.

The Barrow County Animal Shelter staff is urging pet owners to get their animals vaccinated.

“Please help lessen the chances of losing a family pet and make sure your pet is currently vaccinated,” said Danyal Harper, senior animal control officer, in a press release. The Barrow County Code of Ordinances requires all dogs, cats or ferrets that are at least 3 months old to be vaccinated against the rabies virus.

To read the full story, see the Jan. 30 edition of the Barrow Journal.