Dog bites, like many unfavorable incidents, are situations most people don’t consider until it happens to them. Unfortunately, with 4.5 million people in the United States being bitten by a dog each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, it’s an all-too-common occurrence. Dog bites can be startling, traumatic and overwhelming, and it’s important to be prepared, whether you’re the owner of the dog that bit someone or you or your dog are the victim of a dog bite.
Marin Humane animal services officers respond to dog-bite reports almost every day throughout Marin County, so we’re uniquely qualified to discuss dog-bite prevention and response. For this conversation, we will focus on the response side of things — what to do after a dog bite occurs.
For dog owners, you have the responsibility to prevent a dog bite from happening in the first place. Chapter 8.04.175 of Marin County’s municipal code states: “Every owner/guardian or possessor of a dog shall at all times prevent such dog from biting or physically harassing any person engaged in a lawful act.”
If your dog bites a person, as the owner, you have the responsibility of reporting the incident right away. Chapter 8.04.200 of Marin County’s municipal code states: “The owner/guardian or other person having custody or control of any animal which bites a human being shall immediately notify (Marin Humane) of such bite, giving the name and address of the person bitten, if known.”
Why does Marin Humane need to be contacted right away in the case of a dog bite? So we can ensure the health of the individual who was bitten, as well as the dog involved. The victim of a dog bite has the right to know they were not exposed to rabies by being bitten.
If you’re the victim of a dog bite, your health and safety are paramount. It is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible on what to do. Washing the area with soap and water may be recommended once you are in a safe location. Before leaving the scene, however, be sure to collect the dog owner’s information — name, phone number and address — and the dog’s information: name, age, breed, color, sex, rabies vaccination history and veterinarian.
If the dog’s owner isn’t present, or should they decline to cooperate, contact local law enforcement and don’t put yourself in harm’s way. The authorities may ask for further information about the situation and any identifying factors involved. Any information is helpful for animal services officers when following up on dog-bite reports to meet state health and safety standards.
If you do seek medical treatment for the bite, you’ll be asked to complete an animal bite report, which is then submitted to Marin Humane by the hospital so we can follow up with the dog owner if they did not immediately report the incident. A dog owner whose dog has bitten someone is liable for any damage caused by the dog bite. For victims of a dog bite, having a medical record with documentation of injuries sustained from a dog bite can be helpful if you choose to seek compensation for incurred expenses.
Similarly, if there’s an altercation between dogs, it’s important to seek veterinary medical attention immediately. Please reach out to Marin Humane for advice, if needed, on how to respond to this situation. For any recompensating, it’s important to seek legal advice, as a bite to another dog is considered a civil matter.
Dog bites and dog altercations are a challenging aspect of living in a country with what’s estimated to be almost 90 million dogs. While I hope this is never an experience you have to go through, I hope you feel a little more prepared should you or someone you know be in this situation. Marin Humane offers behavior and training resources for dog owners at marinhumane.org/oh-behave, and our animal services officers are available 24/7 to receive calls and answer any questions.
Conner Cimmiyotti is an animal services officer with Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org
