06/19/2026
🚨 RABIES IS 100% PREVENTABLE. ONCE SYMPTOMS BEGIN, IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS FATAL. SO WHY DO SOME PET OWNERS STILL SKIP THE VACCINE? 🚨
At Lamar County Animal Services, one of the most common conversations we have with pet owners involves rabies vaccinations.
Some believe their pet only needed a rabies vaccine once in its lifetime.
Some believe their pet doesn’t need a rabies vaccine because it never leaves the property.
Some believe that because their pet is friendly, healthy, or primarily indoors, rabies isn’t a concern.
Unfortunately, rabies does not work that way.
Rabies is not a disease of the past, nor is it a problem limited to other states or distant communities.
In 2026 alone, multiple Georgia communities have reported confirmed rabid animals:
• In Pike County, a rabid fox attacked a family dog. Fortunately, the dog was current on its rabies vaccination and was able to receive a booster and observation period.
• In Spalding County, a rabid dog was confirmed after exhibiting neurological symptoms. Just weeks later, another rabid fox was confirmed after aggressively approaching a resident and their dog.
• In Burke County, a rabid fox reportedly attacked a person, requiring immediate medical intervention.
• In Hall County, a rabid raccoon prompted a public health alert after being found in a residential area.
• In Coffee County, a rabid fox was confirmed after an encounter near Douglas.
• In White County, a rabid cat exposed a resident.
• In Athens-Clarke County, a stray cat tested positive for rabies.
• In Gwinnett County, a rabid raccoon attacked a family dog.
• Additional rabies-positive animals have been reported throughout Georgia this year, including raccoons, bats, foxes, cats, and dogs.
These are not incidents from decades ago.
These are not incidents from another part of the country.
These are Georgia cases from this year.
So why is rabies vaccination required by law?
Because rabies is one of the deadliest diseases known to medicine.
Rabies attacks the brain and central nervous system. Once symptoms begin, it is almost always fatal in both animals and humans. While medical treatment can prevent rabies if started immediately after exposure, there is virtually no successful treatment once clinical signs develop.
The good news is that rabies is entirely preventable through vaccination.
A simple vaccine protects your pet. It protects your family. It protects your neighbors. It protects veterinarians, first responders, Animal Services personnel, and anyone who may come into contact with an exposed animal.
Another common misconception is that a rabies vaccine is something a pet receives once and remains protected for life.
That is not true.
Most pets receive an initial rabies vaccination followed by additional vaccinations as required by state law and the vaccine manufacturer. Depending on the vaccine administered by your veterinarian, your pet may be placed on either a one-year or three-year vaccination schedule.
A three-year vaccine does not mean the vaccine lasts forever. It means your pet is protected for three years from the date of administration. Once that expiration date passes, your pet is no longer considered current on its rabies vaccination.
We frequently hear:
• “My dog already had a rabies shot years ago.”
• “I didn’t know it had to be renewed.”
• “My dog never leaves my property.”
• “My cat stays indoors.”
Unfortunately, rabies does not recognize fences, property lines, or whether a pet spends most of its time indoors.
Wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, bats, and other animals routinely enter residential neighborhoods throughout Georgia. It only takes one encounter to expose an unvaccinated pet.
There is another misconception we occasionally encounter.
Pet ownership is not something that begins and ends when it is convenient.
Under Georgia law, ownership and responsibility are determined by more than simply claiming an animal when things are going well. If an animal lives on your property, is regularly fed by you, housed by you, cared for by you, or otherwise under your custody and control, you may be considered responsible for that animal.
We often hear:
• “It’s not my dog.”
• “I just feed it.”
• “It stays here sometimes.”
• “It’s the neighborhood dog.”
Those explanations become far more complicated when that animal bites someone, attacks another animal, causes property damage, or is exposed to a rabid animal.
Pet ownership comes with responsibilities. Providing adequate food, water, shelter, veterinary care, and maintaining a current rabies vaccination are not optional recommendations—they are obligations that accompany ownership.
This is why Lamar County Animal Services issues citations when animals are not current on their rabies vaccinations.
It is not about generating revenue.
It is not about punishing pet owners.
It is about protecting public health and preventing a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
We also understand that cost can sometimes be a concern. That is why we work to offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics whenever possible. When those opportunities are announced, we strongly encourage every pet owner to take advantage of them.
A rabies vaccine costs far less than a citation, a quarantine order, an exposure investigation, emergency veterinary treatment, or post-exposure medical treatment for a person.
Most importantly, it could save a life.
Please take a moment today to verify that your pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. If you are unsure, contact your veterinarian and ask.
Because when it comes to rabies, prevention is not only easier than treatment—
it is the only reason treatment is rarely needed at all.
