Animal Bites & Rabies
Even if you own the animal or you know the owner, it’s important to report all animal bites to us. We’ll help you figure out the risk for rabies or other illnesses from the bite.
- Wash the bite well with soap and water right away.
- If you were injured, see a health care provider as soon as possible. Here are some tips if you don’t have insurance.
- If your pet was injured, they should see their veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Report the bite to us.
It is important to find the animal that bit you or your pet. We need to know if it has been vaccinated for rabies or has rabies.
Call Dispatch at (608) 255-2345 and say you are calling to report an animal bite.
- If you don't know the animal's owner, or it was a stray or wild animal, tell them as much as you can to help us find it. Include what it looked like, where you saw it, and if you’ve seen the animal before. Tell them if you need help capturing the animal.
- The dispatcher will give your information to an Animal Services Officer who will follow-up with you about the bite.
You can also report the bite online.
Your report will be sent to an Animal Services Officer who will follow up with you as soon as possible.
- Check to see if the bite broke the skin before the owner leaves the scene. Don’t wait to check until you get home.
- Ask the owner to call their vet to find out if the pet is up to date on rabies shots.
- Exchange names and phone numbers with the pet’s owner. You may need to contact them for follow up questions.
- Report the bite to us. Call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services, or use our online form below.
Report an animal bite - Any dog or cat that bites will be quarantined for 10 days and checked for signs of rabies.
- If there are no signs of rabies after 10 days, you and/or your pet do not need post exposure rabies shots.
- If you can’t find the animal that bit you, or it shows signs of rabies, you need to see a healthcare provider right away for treatment.
- Try to capture the animal. Be careful so it doesn’t bite you again. We may be able to help capture it if it is in your home. Let us know if you need help when you report the bite to us. Our officers are on duty from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm seven days a week.
- Report the bite to us. Call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services or use our online form below.
Report an animal bite - If you need to kill the animal, don’t damage the head. We will send the animal to a lab for rabies testing. The lab uses the head for the rabies test. Keep the animal cool until we can pick it up. Put the animal in a refrigerator if it can’t be picked up the same day.
- Rabies test results are usually available within a day. We call you with results as soon as possible. If we do not reach you by phone, we will send the results in the mail.
- If the rabies test is positive, you should get rabies shots as soon as possible.
- If the rabies test is negative, you did not get rabies from the bite.
- If the animal wasn’t captured, or if the rabies test was indeterminate (uncertain), talk to a healthcare provider. You may need rabies shots as soon as possible.
*What you should know about bats
Bat bites are hard to see because their teeth are small and bite marks can disappear quickly.
Do not set a bat free if you find it:
- In your room when you wake up
- In your child’s room when they are alone
- In a room with your pet
- In the room with a mentally impaired or intoxicated person
- Safely capture the bat. It needs to be tested for rabies. Do not set it free.
- Between 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services. We will pick up the bat and have it tested.
- Between 5:30 pm - 8:00 am, capture the bat and keep it in a safe place. Call us after 8:00 am the next day for pick up and testing.
If you have a bat in your home and you are certain that no people or pets have come in contact with it:
- Confine it to a room. Close all doors and windows except those that lead outside. This will give it a chance to leave.
- Be careful so you don’t get bitten.
- If you can’t get the bat out:
- Between 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services. We will help you get the bat out.
- Between 5:30 pm - 8:00 am, keep it in a room without people or pets. Call us at 8:00 am if the bat is still in the room. We will help you get the bat out.
- Try to capture the animal. Be careful so it doesn’t bite again. We may be able to help capture it if it is in your home. Let us know if you need help when you report the bite to us. Our officers are on duty from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm seven days a week.
- Report the bite to us. Call (608) 255-2345 and ask for Animal Services or use our online form below.
Report an animal bite - If you need to kill the animal, don’t damage the head. We will send the animal to a lab for rabies testing. The lab uses the head for the rabies test. Keep the animal cool until we can pick it up. Put the animal in a refrigerator if it can’t be picked up the same day.
- Your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- You may need to quarantine your pet. If so, it must be kept at home, away from other animals, and have limited contact with people.
- There are two types of quarantine for pets that may have been exposed to rabies:
- 60-day quarantine: If you pet has had its rabies shots, it will be in a 60-day quarantine. It will immediately get an additional rabies shot.
- 6-month quarantine: If you pet has not had its rabies shots it will be in a 6-month quarantine. It will get an additional rabies shot in the 5th month of quarantine. Your pet will need to be tested if the vet thinks it has rabies.
Rabies vaccines:
- You don't need rabies shots unless you're exposed to rabies from a bite.
- Getting dogs and cats vaccinated is their best protection against rabies. When they are vaccinated, they can’t give rabies to you or other animals.
- Dogs and cats should be vaccinated when they are five months old, a year later, and then every one to three years for the rest of their life.
- In Wisconsin, all dogs are required to be vaccinated and in Madison, cats must also be vaccinated. See our webpage to learn which other municipalities in Dane County require cats be vaccinated.
You and your pets should avoid:
- Wild animals
- Animals you don’t know
- Animals with symptoms of rabies.
Keep wild animals out of your home:
- Block openings in your house that animals can get through
- Close lids tightly on garbage cans so animals are not attracted to them
Tips to Prevent Dog Bites
In 2022, we responded to 901 animal bites. Many of these were dog bites.
Dogs can bite for a variety of reasons:
- Being afraid
- Being sick or injured
- By accident while playing
Learn how to prevent dog bites.
Resources:
