Second Case of Rabid Fox Reported in Royston
Franklin County Health Department reporting another case of rabies in the Royston area.
Franklin County Environmental Health Director Louis Korff said he was called to Royston Friday after Royston Police answered a call about a rabid fox.
“This time I have the creature and am having it tested,” Korff said. “For some reason, Royston seems to be an active area for rabies in foxes. I have no doubt in my mind that this one will come back positive for rabies.”
Korff said officers shot and killed the animal and said it had not gotten near any other pets or humans. Korff did not say where in Royston this second sick fox was found.
This is the second case of a rabid fox in a Royston neighborhood and the third reported rabies case in the County this month.
On May 8th, Royston Police officers were called to a home on Nicholas Way where a sick fox was found lying in the corner of a homeowner’s yard. That fox was also shot and killed by police and was disposed of.
A third case of a rabid raccoon was also reported a few days later in neighboring Franklin Springs. However, that animal escaped into the woods before it could be captured by authorities.
Meantime, Korff said this month’s annual rabies clinic in Franklin County vaccinated over 705 dogs and cats and several horses.
“Couple that with the 300 vaccinations the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter did in April and that’s just over 1,000 animals that received the rabies vaccine this year,” Korff said.
Korff said more and more pet owners in Franklin County are getting their animals vaccinated against rabies than in years past.
“Since I’ve been in Franklin County, I’ve seen the number of rabies cases steadily drop,” Korff said. “People are getting the message that the best way to avoid rabies is to have your pets vaccinated.”