HOPEWELL VALLEY
What should I do if I'm bitten or attacked by an animal?
- Learn as much as you can about the animal. If the animal is with an owner, get the owner's name, address and phone number. If it is a wild or stray animal, look to see if there are any features that will allow you to identify it later on. If it is possible to do without endangering yourself, capture the animal and confine it; or call your local Animal Control officer.
- Wash the wound immediately with plenty of water and soap.
- Contact your physician, H.M.O., or local emergency room for wound care and consultation regarding the need for rabies preventive treatment.
- Report the incident to your local Health Department. State law requires notification of bite to be reported within twelve hours of bite, or within twelve hours of caregiver gaining knowledge of bite for situations involving children and incapacitated adults.
What should I do if my dog bites someone?
- Secure dog immediately. Dog bites occur quickly and often shock both owners and victims. It is essential to secure the animal in a manner that prevents any further escalation of the incident.
- Exchange information with person bitten. Provide name, address and phone number to person bitten. If situation is hostile, contact local police department to file report of incident and provide all information to officer. Dog owners are responsible for the incident per N.J.A.C. 4:19-16. It can only make things worse to attempt to avoid the issue.
- Contact local Health Department/Animal Control and discuss the matter with official. The Health Department must obtain copies of rabies vaccination, complete bite and confinement documentation and monitor the mandatory ten (10) day observation per State Law N.J.A.C. 26:4.
Why does my dog or cat need to be observed if it bites someone?
If a dog bites a human, the animal must be observed for ten days to see if symptoms of rabies develop. This is necessary even if it has been vaccinated, as very rarely, vaccination fails to protect an animal and it develops rabies disease. At the longest, a dog can have rabies virus in its saliva for only 2-3 days before it develops rabies symptoms. Therefore we know that if a dog remains healthy for at least 10 days after it bites someone, it could not have had the rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite. If an animal does not have virus in its saliva, it cannot transmit the disease through a bite. If the animal being observed dies, for any reason, during the observation period, Health Department must be immediately notified and animal must be surrendered to Health Official for rabies testing. If this unfortunate circumstance arises, animal should be placed in a cool, dry location until picked up by Health Officials. Body should never be exposed to heat or freeze.
What do I do if my dog is lost?
Call your local police department and report lost dog immediately! Residents, who find lost dogs or see dogs at large often, call the local police department. Dispatchers can connect animals to their owners or dispatch Animal Control as needed. Animal Control Officers are not looking to make examples of people who lose their dogs, provided it doesn’t happen every day. We all understand accidents happen. It can only help to report the lost dog, as it makes the Animal Control Officer’s job easier.
Keep a phone handy. Dispatchers and Animal Control can’t call an owner to report their dog is found if the owner is out searching for dog without communication. Always post a person near the phone or keep a cell phone handy.
