Recent surveillance for rabies in the raccoon population near Columbiana in Shelby County has revealed three positive cases. The current area of focus includes a two-mile radius around the Beeswax Creek boat launch area, where the most recent of the positive raccoons was discovered.

The ongoing surveillance is being conducted by the USDA Wildlife Services (WS) along with the Alabama Department of Public Health. The surveillance began in response to a rabid puppy found in February that was confirmed to be infected with a raccoon variant of the rabies virus.

The primary concern is that these positive cases have been found in an area where raccoon rabies is not typically found. According to Dana Johnson, a USDA WS biologist, the primary focus will be expanding the surveillance areas to try to determine the extent that the rabies virus has spread.

     This Saturday, 20 April, is going to be a busy one and we invite you to stop by our table at Craterfest, Goldstar Park in Wetumpka!  Craterfest is a ‘don’t miss’ event so join in the fun and stop by to check out our information, adoptable pet pics, new magnets for sale and more!

     We often have school groups come to the shelter and want to thank the great students from Prattville Christian Academy 7th Grade and Macon-East Montgomery Academy who came out last week to help bathe and exercise dogs, give love to kitties and just generally lend us a hand.   Our pets were very happy with all of the attention they received and we thoroughly enjoyed having such great young people with us for a while.