How Can I Prevent Reporting Bites Animal Bites? Washington County Code 14.13(11) • Supervise young children around all requires that animal bites be reported to the , even pets Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

• Teach children not to approach animals If your community does not have 24-hour

without the owners permission local police coverage, report the bite to the

• Avoid contact with animals you do not Washington County Sheriff’s Department at

know, whether domestic or wild 262-335-4411.

• Be especially cautious and avoid animals that are sick or acting strangely Where Can I Find Out More Information about Animal Bites • Do not try to separate animals that are Animal fighting and Prevention? • Do not disturb pets when they are eating Bites or sleeping Washington County Health Department • Do not keep wild animals as pets 333 E. Washington St., Suite 1100 West Bend WI 53095 262-335-4462

Why is it Important to Keep Pets Washington County Humane Society Current on Rabies Vaccinations? 3650 State Hwy 60 Slinger WI 53086 • , and ferrets need to be 262-677-4388 vaccinated against rabies to protect them from the disease • Prevention of rabies in pets helps Websites prevent the transmission of rabies from http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/ pets to communicable/factsheets/Rabies.htm • It is the law that all dogs must be vaccinated against rabies Washington County http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=searc • In some areas, cats and ferrets must also Health Department be vaccinated for rabies. Even if not h&queryText=Rabies 333 E. Washington St. required, it is a good idea to vaccinate Suite 1100 your cats or ferrets P.O. Box 2003

Washington County Health Department – 06/2008 West Bend, WI 53095-2003

Phone: 262-335-4462 Chnpub/communications/brochures/animalbites Fax: 262-335-4705

What Constitutes an What should be done if there is an What should be done with an Animal Bite or Exposure? Animal Bite or Exposure? Animal that has Bitten?

9 Any penetration of the skin can be 9 Thoroughly wash the bite, wound, or 9 For pets or domestic animals, obtain the considered to be an animal “bite” scratch with warm water and soap owner’s name, address and phone exposure. This includes scratches as (scrub for several minutes) number well as punctures 9 Seek medical advice from your health 9 Determine the rabies vaccination status 9 Exposure of mucous membranes (eyes, care provider or the health department of the animal and if it is wearing nose, mouth) to body fluids of bats or as soon as possible to determine: identification tags other animals that can carry rabies, may • Proper wound care pose a risk of transmitting rabies • Possible need for antibiotics 9 Record a description of the animal

• Possible need for tetanus booster including color, size and markings 9 Because a bat bite may not arouse someone who is sleeping and the marks • Possible need for rabies 9 Record the address or location where left from a bat bite may not be vaccination the bite occurred

noticeable, if a sleeping person awakens 9 Report the bite to your local law 9 Try to capture or contain the animal if to find a bat in the room, or an adult enforcement agency or to the Sheriff’s you can do so without risk of further witnesses a bat in the room with a Department. They can help determine injury to yourself previously unattended child, mentally appropriate follow-up actions. disabled person, or intoxicated person, 9 Try not to injure the animal’s head when medical evaluation and prophylaxis capturing it as this could interfere with should be considered unless the bat is the ability to test it captured and tests negative for rabies

9 Although all animal bites pose a 9 When saving a dead animal for shipping keep it cold but do not freeze it potential for serious infection, not all animals that bite carry rabies 9 Animals that carry rabies can be tested

Which Animals Can at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of What is the Risk of Rabies? Hygiene by submitting them through a Carry Rabies? veterinarian or the Washington County

9 Many but not all animal species can Humane Society 9 Rabies is a deadly disease that is caused carry the rabies virus. 9 Dogs, cats and ferrets can be by a virus and is spread through the 9 Animals that do carry rabies include: saliva of an infected animal. Rabies can quarantined for 10 days to determine if Dogs, cats, ferrets, cows, horses, sheep, be transmitted when the saliva gets into they are rabid wounds, scratches, or mucous pigs, goats, mink, skunk, bats, weasels, 9 membranes. Domestic animals and pets Farm animals may be quarantined on a , opossum, raccoon, , , case by case basis muskrat, beaver, woodchuck, can carry rabies although most cases occur in wild animals such as bats, groundhog, or wolf/ mix, almost any carnivorous animal skunks and raccoons

9 Animals that usually do not carry rabies include: Rabbits, small , , mice, chipmunks, gerbils, hamsters, Guinea pigs, , gophers