A coyote tested positive for rabies yesterday after three incidents in Buford on December 26 and 27, 2025.
During the first incident, a resident and a dog were injured in an attack near Holland Park Drive. Additional attacks involving two residents and another dog occurred at 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on December 27 near Wyncliff Court and Bennies Way in Buford.
Diseases like rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through bites or scratches from wild animals such as foxes and raccoons. Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement and GNR Public Health advise residents to use caution and avoid animals behaving in unusual ways.
Pet owners should ensure that their pets are current on rabies vaccination. According to the National Association of State Health Veterinarians, unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal must be strictly quarantined for four months and vaccinated one month prior to being released.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal in humans if untreated. Early symptoms of rabies in people include fever, headache and general weakness or discomfort.
If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or suspected rabid animal, immediate preventive treatment is necessary.
Please seek medical care immediately and inform the health care provider of the exposure. Then, contact GNR Public Health at 770-339-4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist.
- To report an animal behaving in an unusual way and have it picked up, call the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at 770-339-3200, ext. 5576.
Shumate joins Gwinnett Housing Corp. board
Greg Shumate of Suwanee has joined the Gwinnett Housing Corporation board of Commissioners.
Shumate is CEO and Managing Partner at Capital City Home Loans, with extensive experience in the mortgage banking industry. His leadership extends beyond his company as he serves on several boards, including the Gwinnett Medical Center and the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia.
His commitment to education and community service is evident through his involvement with Georgia Gwinnett College and Warrick Dunn Charities. With a background in marketing from Georgia State University, he combines strategic insight with a deep understanding of financial services. His long tenure in various leadership roles highlights his stability and adaptability in the ever-evolving mortgage landscape. Outside of work, he is passionate about supporting local initiatives and promoting education.
GGC’s Sheetinger joining Washington National ranks
Georgia Gwinnett College baseball coach Jeremy Sheetinger is departing for the professional ranks. He is joining Washington Nationals to coordinate its minor league training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., and assisting in improving defensive skills for players and teams throughout the organization.
Assistant coach Ryan Terrill is also advancing his professional career by becoming the recruiting coordinator with NCAA Division I’s Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). This position moves him closer to his family roots in Virginia.
Under Sheetinger, GGC baseball captured the 2021 NAIA national championship and advanced to the Avista NAIA World Series for seven consecutive seasons, including back-to-back semifinal finishes. The 2026 Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the NAIA preseason poll after a 56-7 season in 2025.
Sheetinger led the Grizzlies for six seasons, compiling a 279-52 record (83.2 winning percentage), with four 50-win seasons, and the 2021 NAIA national championship, winning all five games at the NAIA Avista World Series.
Sheetinger says: “My dad used to remind me that if you see a turtle sitting on a fencepost, recognize he did not get up there by himself. “Career advancement for coaches is only created by the players on the field – they are the most important people and drive our collective success. Couple this with the loyalty, work ethic and commitment of our assistant coaches, this all played an influential role in elevating GGC baseball. My family and I are forever indebted to the men who wore the G-Claw with pride and supported our vision for the program.”
