Stray Gilmer County, Ga., beagle had rabies

A Gilmer County, Ga., couple learned Monday a stray beagle that had been near their home tested positive for rabies. However, county environmental health officials determined neither the couple nor their pets had been exposed to the virus.

“We’re constantly reminding the public to avoid contact with both stray and wild animals,” Andrea Martin, Gilmer County environmental health manager, said. “If you don’t know the rabies vaccination status of an animal, you’re putting yourself at risk just by handling it. But in this case, we ascertained that the couple and their pets had not been licked, scratched or bitten by the dog.”

The couple, who live near the intersection of Flat Branch and Weeks Roads in Ellijay, noticed the beagle on their property Nov. 25 and saw it showed signs of illness, including lethargy and the inability to walk.

They tried to tend to it but were concerned about rabies, so they contacted the local veterinarian hospital.

The dog was prepared for rabies testing and the specimen was sent to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory on Nov. 29. The positive test result was reported to local officials on Dec. 1.

Martin urged anyone living near the intersection of Flat Branch and Weeks roads who thinks it is possible that they or their children could have been exposed to the beagle at any time since Nov. 11 call either the Gilmer County Environmental Health office at 706-635-6050 or the Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for a free rabies exposure consultation.