Yes, it's important to report that you've been bitten by a dog as soon as possible. Here's why: 1. Necessary medical treatment. It's crucial to seek medical attention after a dog bite. Even if you think it's a minor injury, you should still have a medical professional take a look. Dog bites can lead to serious infection if not properly treated. In New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 26:4-79 requires physicians to report all animal bites to the Health Officer with jurisdiction where the bite victim lives, within 12 hours of attendance. 2. Public safety. Reporting a dog bite is an important step that you can take to protect the public from a potentially dangerous animal. The dog that bit you may have also bitten before. This information can only be shared with the community if each person reports their bite. 3. Rabies. If the dog that bit you was particularly vicious, there could be a serious concern about Rabies. In this case, there are certain steps that must be taken immediately regarding the dog and your health. Rabies cases are highly monitored in NJ. 4. Legal recourse. Reporting a dog bite creates a record of the incident. This is particularly helpful should you decide to pursue legal action.