Special Rabies Clinic Scheduled for Royston/Franklin Springs
Continued reports of rabid wildlife turning up in Royston and Franklin Springs has prompted both municipalities to call for another low-cost rabies clinic for pet owners.
The clinic will be held at two locations on Saturday, July 20th.
Franklin County Environmental Health Director Louis Korff said he was contacted recently by Royston and Franklin Springs Police Chiefs and asked to help organize the clinics.
He said for some reason, this year rabies cases have been particularly bad in the southern part of Franklin County.
“The big picture is that, for whatever reason, they are really active in the Royston/Franklin Springs area,” Korff said. “So I again went over to the nice folks at Royston Animal Hospital and they again agreed to put this one on.”
Since early spring, a number of cases of rabid animals have been reported in both communities. In May, Royston police answered two calls of sick foxes in the backyards of homes in intown neighborhoods. Those two animals were shot and killed by Royston police officers and disposed of. A sick raccoon also turned up in the backyard of a Franklin Springs home, but ran off into the woods before it could be caught.
Korff said he’s not sure why so many rabid wild animals are turning up in those municipalities.
“I’m just guessing but it could be that they’re being flooded out of their dens because of the rain we’ve had,” Korff said. “I really don’t know. This seems to be cyclic. For awhile I don’t have any cases of rabies reported and then all of the sudden I’ll get one or two calls a week about rabid animals.”
Normally, the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter and the Franklin County Health Department h old rabies clinics each spring and fall.
Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman said he asked for the extra rabies clinic to help pet owners make sure their animals are safe.
“Due to the high number of sick animals we’ve recently encountered in the city, we feel like it’s essential to offer this type of clinic to our citizens,” Boleman said.
Boleman said being proactive and educating pet owners could prevent problems for pets and people who encounter sick wildlife that might be rabid.
The rabies clinic will take place Saturday July 20th from 8a to noon at the Royston Animal Hospital in Franklin Springs, and from 10a to noon at Deason’s Farm and Garden on Railroad St. in Royston.
Cost for rabies vaccines is $5 per pet.