Enforcement

Animal Control

The Animal Services Department includes Animal Control operations for Putnam County.  Animal Control Officers respond to public calls regarding at-large, nuisance, stray, lost, dangerous, and diseased domestic animals. Officers also conduct initial investigations concerning animal neglect, cruelty,  and animal bites/attacks.  Other duties include investigating violations of local animal control ordinances and state animal welfare laws, as well as issuing warnings and/or citations for violations.

To speak with Animal Control Personnel, please call the Animal Services Department at (706)485-3970, or if you prefer, stop by the office at 107 Ridley Drive, located next door to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

Rabies Control

The goal of the Rabies Control Program is to minimize the spread of the rabies virus in the human population. The Environmental Health Section conducts investigations and provides technical assistance to private physicians, veterinarians, hospital emergency rooms, and local animal control shelters by following the Rabies Control Law, O.C.G.A. 31-19, and the Department of Human Resources Rules 290-5-2. The EH section coordinates specimen testing with the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. See the Georgia Rabies Control Manual for more information.

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted in the saliva of infected mammals. The virus causes an encephalomyelitis that is almost always fatal in humans. Human rabies is a completely preventable disease if the risk of acquisition is appreciated and appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (consisting of wound care as well as both active and passive immunization) is obtained. You should reduce your risk of acquiring rabies if you:

Vaccinate domestic animals as required by regulations
Avoid contact with stray animals
Avoid contact with unknown animals
Avoid contact with injured or sick animals
Avoid contact with wildlife

REPORT ALL ANIMAL BITES PROMPTLY. 

All Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers are required by law to report patients with certain notifiable diseases and conditions including animal bites. Animal control, veterinarians, and local law enforcement should also submit animal bite/exposure reports if applicable. Reporting of an animal bite(s) is not restricted to medical personnel and government employees.

It is critical the Health Department receives notification of any animal bite presented in your facility. Rabies is essentially 100% fatal once symptoms are present and the Georgia Rabies Control Law requires that health departments be notified if an animal bite occurs.

The Putnam County Health Department/Environmental Health Division:  (706) 485-8591.