Animal Bites

If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, take your pet to a veterinarian within 24 hours. If the attacker is at high risk for rabies, for example, a raccoon, skunk, woodchuck, fox, or bat, handle your pet with gloves and wash any area which may have saliva from the attacker on it. Keep children away from the pet. These instructions apply whether or not your pet is vaccinated.

To prevent your pet from being bitten by another animal:

  • Keep pets under control at all times and in the house at night.

You can prevent children from being bitten by:

  • Keeping them away from dogs or cats that are eating anything;
  • Keeping them away from any strange animals;
  • Keeping them away from sick or injured animals;
  • Not allowing them to take a toy or ball away from an animal that is playing with it.

Animal bites to humans must be reported to the animal inspector or the Board of Health, if the skin is broken. If an animal bites another animal, you need only report this to a veterinarian.