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Rabies Prevention: After a Dog Bite, Always Identify the Dog and Its Owner

DogsBite.org - Too many dog bite victims needlessly undergo the expensive and painful rabies vaccination, a cost of about $2,000 and 3-5 shots, because the dog owner flees the scene after an attack or fails to provide accurate information to the victim. Contracting rabies through dog bites is rare, but safety precautions are always taken due to the fact that death may result if the virus is contracted.

After a dog bite, always identify the dog and its owner.

The first action a victim, witness or family member should do after a dog bite is to identify the dog and its owner. If the dog owner is present at the time, or nearby, this person must provide truthful information and full cooperation as the situation unfolds. The second and often simultaneous action is to seek medical care and contact authorities -- animal control, police or sheriff's department.

What If You Cannot Afford the Rabies Vaccine?
The CDC Rabies Exposure website shows a Patient Assistance Program for those who cannot afford the rabies vaccine. Several organizations are listed on this web page including: The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and the RabAvert ® Patient Assistance Program.

Recent examples:

Pit Bull Sought to Prevent Rabies Vaccine for Two
Madison, WI - The Madison & Dane County Department of Public Health said it is looking for information regarding a dog that bit a man and woman last week. The dog is described as a male brown pit bull with a white patch over one eye. Officials said the dog's owner is a young black man who identified himself as Paul and said he lives on the south side of Madison.

Police Searching For Pit Bull Who Bit Child
Boston, MA - A young Lynn girl was attacked last week by a pit bull that left the scene with its owner before police arrived. The girl, about 5-years old, was with her mother walking on the boardwalk when the dog approached. The girl suffered a laceration to her face and was taken to Salem Hospital, where she may need rabies shots if the dog and its owner remain unlocated.

Dog Owner Gives Attack Victim False Information
College Station, TX - A woman who fought off a pair of attacking dogs with pepper spray may now have to undergo a series of rabies vaccinations. According to officials, the dogs' owner arrived about the time the attack was ending, and gave the woman her name and telephone number. But when the woman tried to call it, the number had been disconnected.

Related articles:
07/26/08: Critical Rabies Information, Help Stop the Spread of Rabies
05/13/08: Sickle Cell Anemia Bite Victim; Pit Bull AWOL for Rabies Test