Enforces home quarantines for cats and dogs, locates persons exposed to rabid animals and alerts the public of rabies outbreaks.
Rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. Any mammal can get rabies. Rabies is spread through saliva, usually from a bite of an animal that has the disease. Rabies can be prevented by a rabies vaccine.
To prevent rabies, it is important to:
- Vaccinate your dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies.
- Keep your pets under supervision.
- Do not handle wild animals. If you see a wild animal or a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely, call DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement. ( 404-294-2996 or 404-294-2519)
Since Rabies is usually spread through the bite of an animal that has the disease, it is important to report animal bites.
- If you are bitten by an animal, please call the Office of Epidemiology at 404-508-7851.
- The DeKalb County Board of Health does NOT provide rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. The Office of Epidemiology can help you identify a location if vaccines are needed.
- If your pet has been attacked by a wild animal or another pet, call DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement. (404-294-2996 or 404-294-2519)
All pets that have bitten people or others animals must be quarantined as well as any pet that may have been exposed to a rabid animal. The quarantine allows time to find out if the animal has rabies. Pets that are up to date on their rabies vaccine may qualify to quarantine their pets at home. For more information about home quarantines, see below or call the Board of Health at 404-508-7900
- DeKalb County Animal Services and Enforcement
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rabies Information
- CDC’s Rabies Web Page That’s Just for Kids!
- Georgia Rabies Control Manual
- Georgia Poison Center
- (Atlanta) 404-616-9000
- Toll Free Number 800-222-1222
- Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health Epidemiology Branch – 404-657-2588
- CDC Clinician Information Line – 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)