Bites are often the easiest wounds to become infected. If it is a severe bite, seek medical help immediately. If it is yours, you know if it is up to date on vaccinations. If it is a neighbor s, find out, if it is a strange dog, take note of the appearance. This will help animal control later.
All states require proof of a rabies vaccination given by a veterinarian.
Owners, who lack these, can be issued citations, fines, sued, and even jailed. Once a bite is seen by medical personal, it is required by most states that the case be reported to the local authorities. Rules of care do vary from state to state and even between counties. The two most common actions taken by local officials are to quarantine or destroy the dog. This can be required even if a dog is current on all vaccinations.