LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
Animal control officers set traps around a Lee County home today to catch feral cats after a rabid fox attack.
The man who lives there asked for help getting rid of the cats.
After he was attacked by the fox as he fed the cats. And a deputy was attacked as well he wants the cats gone.
Coleman says he has been feeding those cats for more than ten years and considers some of them as pets but their food may have attracted the rabid fox a reminder that you should refrain from feeding any stray animals or feral cats outdoors and even make sure to put all food away if you feed your own pet outdoors.
Today Lee County animal control officers put out traps to catch the feral cats around Willie Coleman's trailer on Ledo road.
He says he's been feeding the stray cats for 15 years..but after a horrible experience over the weekend, he's learned an important lesson.
"I'm not going to come out here and feed no cat," said Coleman.
Sunday a rabid fox attacked Coleman as he was feeding the cats. He eventually got away from the fox and called 911.
When a Lee County deputy arrived the fox attacked him too. That means Coleman and the officer have to undergo a series of shots since to protect them from rabies.
"They shot me in the hip there and shot me in there," said Coleman.
Coleman goes back for his second treatment tomorrow and he says he's not looking forward to it.
"Did it hurt, oh that hurt," said Coleman.
Environmental health director Dewayne Tanner says the treatment is a four to five shot series that can be pretty pricey.
But thanks to the advances in modern medicines..there has been a dramatic drop in rabies cases in people since the 1940's
"In 2008 there were 27 cases of rabies in the United States," said Dewayne Tanner, Environmental Health Director.
Rabies vaccines have also helped keep it out of the pet population as well but feral cats continue to be a problem, so Coleman has a word of advice for other people who may be tempted to feed cats as well.
"Make sure you have a gun on you, make sure it's loaded too," said Coleman.
Raccoons are the most common wild animals infected with rabies in the United States. Skunks, foxes, bats, and coyotes are the other most frequently affected.
Cats are the most common domestic animals with rabies in the United States... a reminder not to feed or come into contact with feral cats.
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