DUNWOODY, Ga. — Animal control officers issued an alert after a pair of dogs found a rabid raccoon in a Dunwoody neighborhood.
County officials told Channel 2’s Lori Wilson they've already had seven rabies calls this year.
Now, they are urging pet owners to take precautions.
Larry Wigginton works in the Dunwoody neighborhood along Olde Village Court every week and he’s used to seeing wildlife.
But it was a surprise to him that a rabid raccoon was found by two dogs, Dixie and Subway.
Their owner, Dallas Mueller, said when the animal died, he put it in the refrigerator and called the county.
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“The county came promptly to get it Monday morning and the test came back positive, so we have to in-home quarantine the dogs now,” Mueller said.
Doctors say the dogs are safe because they had been vaccinated. If they hadn't been, they may have had to be euthanized or be put in a shelter quarantine for six months.
County officials say Mueller did everything right.
“The most important thing to do is to not attract wildlife and if you see animals behaving suspiciously, then, certainly, call us, DeKalb Animal Services CEO Xan Rawls told Wilson.
Mueller's dogs get to stay home, but with restrictions for the next 45 days.
“They can go out in the yard, just no taking them to the park, no taking them to the groomers. If we had to go to the vet for a medical thing, it has to be on a leash and when we do have kids over, we’re going to have to crate them, just so no one is worried,” Mueller told Wilson.
Wigginton isn’t worried, just glad to know the situation has been taken care of.
“I haven’t seen a raccoon. If I did, it would probably run from me like coyotes. They always take off,” Wigginton said.
DeKalb County animal officers say because of our mild weather, rabies is present year-round, so pet owners need to vaccinate their pets.
Life Line Animal Project is offering free vaccinations at Shoal Creek Park II on Saturday, Nov. 4.
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