What to do after dog bite

My 2 yr old son was bit on the leg by a dog at our apartment complex. The owner of the dog wont talk to me and is refusing to open the door. I already took him to urgent care and he was given antibiotics. He has an open puncture wound and bruises. The apartment manager is not in today so I cant get the dog's rabies vaccination records. Do I call the police? Wait until the office manager comes in tomorrow? Try again talking to the neighbor?

I would call the police, this dog is a danger to other children in the complex. I am a dog person and am usually not one to have animals put down but since this person is not talking to you, asking how your child is or appologizing in any way i would have to guess this is not the first time this dog has showed aggressive behavior.

certainly call the police...in some states that hospital is required to inform the city so that the dog can be quarantined....you need to find out if the dog has had all his shots................

Call the police! Since it was an open puncture wound, the dog must be held in isolation (this can be done by the owner) until they make sure is not rabid or has other issues. Is your son up on tetanus? I am sure the urgent care did what they needed to but call the police and make a report. That is so scary!!

Hi Kimba,

I would try one more time to talk to the owner. Tell the owner (through the door or whatever) that you only have 48 hours after the bite to start rabies treatment, you need the dog's vaccination records or you will have to call the police or animal control in order to obtain the paperwork to determine if your son needs treatment. Tell your neighbor that you'll give him/her a couple hours to produce paperwork and then you'll call police/animal control.

You don't say why the dog bit your son.... that will sometimes determine whether or not the dog might have rabies - if the dog ran up out of the blue and bit your son it looks worse than if your son was petting the dog and it got 'spooked' or even if the dog felt like it needed to protect itsself from your son.

Where was the dog's owner when your son was bitten? Where were you? These are things you'll need to tell the police / animal control when you call.

Good Luck and I hope your son feels better!

Don't call the police! They just tell you to call animal control... so call animal control and maybe leave a note on their door letting them know you tried to approach them first. Animal control will probably take the dog in for observation, make sure it's not a violent dog overall, then release it back into their custody and fine them.

Hope your little one feels better soon; my daughter got bit by a dig a few years ago, I know what you're going through!

Definately call the police!

You can google anything in this world! LOL. I am so sorry to hear about your son! Below is the exact thing that happened to someone's five year old little boy in April... and replies regarding it... maybe they will help~
There is also a legal site about dog bites that might be helpful ~
I personally would write a letter to the manager so you have documentation, describing what happened and deliver it in person asking them to find out the information that you need to know and if that does not get the owner to respond you miight have to call animal control. You might ask the Manager to explain you only want information for your child's welfare. You are not trying to get the dog taken away or put down. Wow if I had a dog that bit a kid... I would be falling all over you trying to make it right. Sounds like you may have a little drama dealing with this one. Good luck! Hope your baby is better! Hope the sites help.
http://www.circleofmoms.com/welcome-to-circle-of-moms/what-would-you-do-if-a-neighbor-s-dog-attacked-bit-your-kid-637143

http://personal-injury.lawyers.com/dog-bites/Liability-of-Dog-Owners.html

Call the police. They need to obtain the info on the vet records. I hope your son is okay. My husband was bit by a dog and he needed antibiotics like your son. I hope that your little one is not traumatized.

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Yes, call the Police ASAP!

If the neighbor refuses to speak to you, you really have no choice but to call the authorities. I don't know if it would be the police or animal control, but you have to call someone to get those shot records! Yell through the neighbor's door - tell them that if they don't open the door, you have no choice but to call authorities and you will also have to bring it to the manager's attention if he/she refuses to cooperate. Then, if the door remains closed, by all means call the authorities!

Animal control and the police. asap

Just went through this with my 3 year old and a cat bite...They take dog bites way more seriously. Depending on your cities legislation Animal control is the authority you need to call. If you look online most have a bite hotline type of phone number. Give it a call report the bite incident, especially if you can't get proof of vaccinations. The urgent care should have also filed a report when you took your son in. I would call back and see if they did so. Here in CA its my understanding they are mandatory reporters of dog bites. Good luck hope your little guy feels better soon.

ooh this sucks!!! If the neighbor refuses to talk to you - then you need to call ANIMAL CONTROL to ensure all the dogs shots are up to date. Take pictures and document the incident.

You will also need to let the apartment manager know (as you already tried). If it happened IN the apartment complex - take photos of the location/scene as well.

Since he has already been seen by a doctor, you don't need to go back unless you have problems.

GOOD LUCK!!

Call the police. You have to make sure that dog is up to date on his rabies vaccine.

Call the police now!

And let us know what happened. Hope he's OK!

If he wont talk to you then you have to take matters in your own hands and call Animal control and the police,Dont let too much time go by on this.I would think this person would be more then welling to speak to you because Im more then sure they can be sued for this, Hope your baby is ok.

In Texas all dog bites must be reported to the Texas Department of Health. Well they used to be it has been a while since I worked on an ambulance. I would call animal control. Take pictures of the wound, get a copy of the chart from the hospital and make a copy of any and all expences you accur for this incident. Write down exactly what happened and what you have done and make copies incase it has to go to court. Write a letter to the owner of the dog requesting the shot records and its over all health document when you expext the documentation make a copy and mail it certified to his door.

I would try to get the name of his vet from him and then you can call and
find out about shots etc. If not, call the police and/or animal control and
have them get the info. Keep a records of all expenses. What did the
urgent care center say about rabies? How long do you have before you
child needs rabies vaccine. Thank goodness the rabies shots are not
like they used to be, if he needed them. I would also ask some of his
neighbors who he is friendly with if they know what vet he uses. Even if
he told me he was up on shots, I would not believe him. I would want the
vet to tell me. So sorry your son has to go thru this. Hope he is doing OK.
Let us know how you make out.