CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Board of Health has adopted several revisions to the county’s rabies control regulations last week. The proposed changes were unveiled in August and were the subject of two public hearings.

One change allows pet owners more leeway on vaccination timing following exposure to a rabid animal. If there is documentation that the pet had a history getting regular vaccinations, the owner would just have to get an immediate booster shot followed by 45 days of observation. In the past, if a dog or cat was even a day late in getting their rabies booster shot following such an exposure, they were considered unvaccinated.

Pet owners will also have the right to request a titer check – a blood test that shows the animal still has immunity to the rabies virus, indicating that it has been previously vaccinated.

During last week’s meeting, the board also set the dates for next year’s quarterly meetings – Feb. 6, May 8, Aug. 14 and Nov. 13.

The board also welcomed a new member, Linda Hubbard, a retired public health nurse. She will serve until Dec. 31, 2021, filling out the remaining term of Emmett Shotts, who resigned from the board due to health problems.

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