#AnimalHealth | AM 1180 Radio

May 22, 2026

Walker County Animal Shelter Temporarily Closes After Canine Distemper Case

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalHealth, #AnimalServices, #AnimalShelter, #CanineDistemper, #CDV, #ChickamaugaGA, #CommunityNews, #DogHealth, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #LaFayetteGA, #LookoutMountainGA, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #PetHealth, #PetVaccinations, #PublicHealth, #PuppyHealth, #ResponsiblePetOwnership, #RossvilleGA, #ShelterClosure, #ShelterPets, #VeterinaryCare, #WalkerCountyAnimalShelter, #WalkerCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Walker County Animal Shelter will be closed for at least 30 days after a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus.

May 22, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Asian Longhorned Tick Confirmed in Georgia and Alabama

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AlabamaAgriculture, #AlabamaAnimalHealth, #AnimalHealth, #AsianLonghornedTick, #CattleHealth, #chattoogacounty, #DeKalbCountyAL, #ExtensionService, #Farmers, #FarmNews, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #HabershamCountyGA, #HallCountyGA, #LivestockHealth, #LivestockOwners, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorSafety, #PetOwners, #PickensCountyGA, #PublicHealth, #Theileriosis, #TickAlert, #TickPrevention, #TickSafety, #VeterinaryCare, #WhiteCountyGA, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Agriculture and animal health officials in Georgia and Alabama are urging livestock owners, pet owners, and outdoor enthusiasts to be on alert after the Asian Longhorned Tick was confirmed in multiple counties across the region.

April 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Free Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic Set for Friday in Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #AnimalHealth, #ChattoogaAnimalShelter, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityEvent, #DogsAndCats, #FreeVaccines, #HumaneSociety, #Microchipping, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetSafety, #summervillega, #WednesdayApril292026, #wzqznews 0

Pet owners in Chattooga County will have a chance to take advantage of free services for their animals this Friday during a vaccine and microchipping clinic in Summerville.

The event will take place tomorrow, May 1st from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tractor Supply on Highway 27. Organizers say the clinic is open to the public on a first come, first served basis, and services will be available while supplies last.

Dogs and cats can receive rabies vaccinations, along with DHPP vaccines for dogs and FVRCP vaccines for cats. Microchipping services will also be offered at no cost.

The clinic is being hosted in partnership with the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and the Chattooga County Animal Shelter.

Officials say this is a great opportunity for residents to ensure their pets are protected and up to date on essential care, especially with warmer months ahead.

Pet owners are encouraged to arrive early due to expected demand.

April 28, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Chattooga County Rabies Clinic Scheduled

Community Calandar, Community Calendar, Local News, Local News Items #AnimalHealth, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityEvent, #LocalEvents, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PetCare, #PetVaccinations, #PublicHealth, #RabiesClinic, #summervillega, #trionga, #VeterinaryClinic, #wzqznews 0

Summerville Veterinary Clinic will host a rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, May 16, at Chattooga High School.

The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the school’s parking lot. Pet owners are asked to enter from the Highway 100 entrance and follow posted signs and arrows.

Rabies vaccinations will be available for $10 each. The clinic will be conducted as a drive-through service, with pets remaining inside vehicles while vaccinations are administered.

Organizers say the event offers a convenient and affordable way for residents to keep their pets up to date on rabies vaccinations.

April 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

USDA To Drop Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits Across Chattooga County Region

Local News, Local News Items #AerialBaitDrop, #AnimalHealth, #BartowCounty, #CatoosaCounty, #chattoogacounty, #chattooganews, #CommunityAwareness, #DadeCounty, #FloydCounty, #georgianews, #GordonCounty, #HealthAlert, #LowFlyingAircraft, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGANews, #OralRabiesVaccine, #PetSafety, #PublicHealth, #RabiesPrevention, #RabiesVaccine, #RaccoonRabies, #Raccoons, #USDA, #WalkerCounty, #WhitfieldCounty, #WildlifeManagement, #WildlifeServices, #wzqznews 0

Low-flying aircraft will be seen across Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture begins distributing oral rabies vaccine baits to help prevent the spread of raccoon rabies. The baiting effort is scheduled to take place from April 7 through April 15 as part of a larger cooperative program involving USDA Wildlife Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and other agencies.

March 17, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Declared Free Of Bird Flu, But Officials Urge Continued Vigilance

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #BirdFlu, #FarmNews, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaFarmers, #GeorgiaPoultry, #northwestgeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #TylerHarper, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says the state has officially been declared free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, though officials stress that poultry growers and flock owners still need to stay on guard. Georgia regained its HPAI-free status as of March 13, allowing the state to resume exports and international trade of poultry products.

January 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Avian Flu Confirmed in Second Walker County Commercial Poultry Flock; 16,000 Birds Depopulated

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #APHIS, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #BroilerBreeders, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfAgriculture, #GeorgiaPoultry, #HPAI, #NorthGeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #Quarantine, #USDA, #WalkerCounty 0

State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a second commercial poultry flock in Walker County, marking Georgia’s second detection in a commercial operation in 2026 and the fifth detection overall in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.

January 14, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Avian Influenza Confirmed at Commercial Poultry Operation in Walker County

Local News, Local News Items #AgricultureNews, #AnimalHealth, #AvianInfluenza, #Biosecurity, #GeorgiaAgriculture, #georgianews, #HPAI, #northwestgeorgia, #PoultryIndustry, #PublicSafety, #USDA, #WalkerCounty 0

The Georgia Department of Agriculture says Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County, marking Georgia’s first confirmed HPAI case of 2026 and the fourth case in a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.

State officials say the producer noticed increased mortality on Sunday, January 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Samples were collected and tested Monday, with the positive result confirmed by the state lab Monday evening and later confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, January 13.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team deployed to the site to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection. The affected premises housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue through the week.

A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) quarantine zone has been established around the operation. Officials say all commercial poultry operations within that radius are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, and the affected premises has been secured so that only authorized personnel may enter.