What to Do After a Dog Bite: Step by Step (2026)

After a dog bite, wash the wound right away with soap and water, stop any bleeding, and see a doctor if the wound is deep, gets infected, or the dog’s rabies vaccination is unknown ¹. Then report the bite, get the owner’s name and the dog’s vaccination record, and keep evidence, because the report, the rabies decision and any later claim all depend on what happens in the first days.

This guide follows that order: first aid, rabies, the bite report, the owner and the dog, evidence, insurance and deadlines. It is general information, not medical or legal advice. For your state’s rule, open your page from the state list.

Step 1: First aid and when to see a doctor

Clean the wound first. The CDC says to wash a minor wound thoroughly with soap and water, apply an antibiotic cream and cover it with a clean bandage ¹. Its rabies guidance adds that any bite wound should be washed immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out virus ², and CDC’s immunization advisers found that thorough cleansing alone markedly reduces the chance of rabies in animal studies ⁵.

For a deep wound, the CDC says to press a clean, dry cloth on it to stop the bleeding and get medical attention right away. Call 911 if the bleeding will not stop or you feel faint or weak ¹.

The CDC lists these reasons to see a healthcare provider after a dog bite ¹:

The wound is serious or deep. Punctures and tears can need cleaning, closure or imaging that you cannot do at home.
The wound becomes infected. Infected wounds may be red, painful or swollen, or cause a fever ¹.
You don’t know whether the dog is vaccinated against rabies. A doctor or the health department decides whether you need rabies treatment.
Your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago ¹.

Tell the provider that a dog bit you and what you know about the dog. Bites to the face, hands and children deserve a quick look by a doctor even when they seem small; see the child dog bite guide for the extra steps that apply to minors. A medical visit also creates the first record of the injury, which matters later.

Step 2: Rabies risk and post-exposure shots

Whether you need rabies shots depends mostly on the dog. Under CDC guidance, a healthy domestic dog that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days; a dog that stays healthy through those 10 days was not shedding rabies virus when it bit ⁵. CDC tells veterinarians and health departments to run that observation in coordination with public health authorities ⁴.

If the dog is healthy and under observation, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be held back and started only if the dog shows signs of rabies ⁵. If the dog ran off, is a stray, or its owner cannot be found, the risk assessment changes: a stray suspected of rabies may be euthanized and tested so the result can guide the bite victim’s treatment ⁴.

When PEP is needed, the CDC describes it as wound care, human rabies immune globulin and a four-dose vaccine series for someone never vaccinated before ³. The CDC reported in 2026 that since cell-culture vaccines came into routine U.S. use, there have been no PEP failures in people with a normal immune system ³. Dosing and timing are a medical decision: see a doctor or call your local health department, and do not wait for the 10-day result if you are told to start.

The observation itself is a legal process run by state and local law. California makes the 10-day isolation mandatory statewide ⁷, and Texas requires it regardless of the dog’s vaccination status ¹¹. The dog bite quarantine guide has every state’s rule:

Rabies observation after a dog bites a person (state files reviewed October 2026)
State	Observation period	Rule
Alabama	10 days	A dog that bites a person must be quarantined for 10 days under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, or as the health officer directs.
Alaska	10 days	State regulation requires a vaccinated dog that bites a person to be observed for 10 days.
Arizona	10 days	An unvaccinated dog or cat that bites a person is quarantined for at least 10 days from the day of the bite, in the county pound or, at the owner's request and expense, a veterinary hospital.
Arkansas	10 days	A dog or cat that bites a person is confined for 10 days by a veterinarian, the owner or the public pound.
California	10 days	A dog that bites a person must be isolated and observed for 10 days, in a place and manner the local health officer approves; this is mandatory statewide.
Colorado	10 days	The health department serves notice on the owner to confine a dog that bit a person, at the owner's expense, on the owner's premises, at a shelter or another designated place, for the period the state sets.
Connecticut	10 days	When a dog bites or attacks a person, the animal control officer must quarantine it for 10 days; on day 10 the State Veterinarian or a designee examines it.
Delaware	10 days	The owner of a dog that bit a person must keep it in strict quarantine for at least 10 days from the bite.
District of Columbia	10 days	After DC Health notifies the owner, a dog that bit a person must be quarantined for 10 days, whatever its vaccination status, on the owner's premises, or where DC Health designates at the owner's expense; it may not be given a rabies vaccine during that time.
Florida	10 days	A dog, cat or ferret that bites a person is confined and observed for 10 days from the bite.
Georgia	10 days	Under the state Rabies Control Manual, a dog, cat or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed for 10 days whatever its vaccination status, with no vaccines given during that time.
Hawaii	No fixed state period	Hawaii has never had rabies start within its borders, and its quarantine program is aimed at dogs and cats arriving from elsewhere.
Idaho	No fixed state period	Under the state rule as amended effective July 1, 2026, a healthy dog that bit a person, vaccinated or not, must be managed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a person designated by the Department of Agriculture, the health district or the Department of Health and Welfare.
Illinois	10 days	The biting animal is confined under a veterinarian's observation for at least 10 days from the bite, until a veterinarian examines and releases it; the Administrator can shorten the period.
Indiana	10 days	A dog that bites a person is confined and observed for at least 10 days under the supervision of the state veterinarian, a licensed accredited veterinarian or another person the health officer names, at the owner's expense.
Iowa	10 days	When the local board of health learns an animal has bitten someone, it must order the owner to confine it as the board directs.
Kansas	10 days	An owned dog that bites a person must be observed for signs of rabies for 10 days, at the owner's home, a veterinary premises or a licensed shelter, as the local health officer or KDHE decides.
Kentucky	10 days	The local health officer may quarantine a dog, cat or ferret that bit a person for up to 10 days, or order it destroyed and tested for rabies instead.
Louisiana	10 days	A dog that bites a person must be confined for at least 10 days, or killed and its head sent to the state laboratory for rabies testing; no rabies vaccine should be given during observation.
Maine	10 days	A healthy owned dog that bites a person must be confined and observed daily for 10 days from the bite, whatever its vaccination status.
Maryland	10 days	The owner of a dog, cat or ferret that bit a person must quarantine it for at least 10 days after the bite, in a place and manner approved by the local health officer or the state Public Health Veterinarian.
Massachusetts	10 days	After investigating, the animal inspector issues a written order placing the dog under a 10-day quarantine, whatever its vaccination status.
Michigan	10 days	Michigan's rule requires a biting animal to be handled under the national Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.
Minnesota	10 days	A dog, cat or ferret that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days, or euthanized and tested for rabies.
Mississippi	10 days	A healthy dog, cat or ferret that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days in a manner acceptable to the local health officer, with no rabies vaccine given during that time.
Missouri	10 days	No Missouri statute fixes the observation period.
Montana	10 days	After a dog, cat or ferret bites a person, the local health officer must arrange for the animal to be observed for 10 days at an animal shelter, veterinary facility or other adequate facility.
Nebraska	10 days	A vaccinated dog is confined and observed by its owner for at least 10 days, as the rabies control authority requires, and is then examined by a veterinarian.
Nevada	10 days	Every dog, cat or ferret that bites a person must be quarantined and observed for 10 days, whether or not it is vaccinated, under a vet or a person the rabies control authority designates.
New Hampshire	10 days	A healthy, vaccinated dog that breaks the skin must be confined by the owner as local authorities require for 10 days, then examined by a veterinarian.
New Jersey	10 days	The local health department may order the owner to confine a dog that bit someone for at least ten days, at the owner's expense, at home or at a shelter or veterinary hospital named in the notice (N.J.S.A. 26:4-82).
New Mexico	10 days	A dog, cat or ferret that bites a person must either be destroyed and its head sent for rabies testing, or confined immediately at the owner's expense for a 10-day observation, at a place and in a manner the animal control officer designates and the health office approves.
New York	10 days	When a dog, cat or ferret has bitten a person, the local health authority may order it confined for 10 days, whether or not it is vaccinated, under conditions it sets and under the control of persons it chooses, which can include the owner.
North Carolina	10 days	A dog that bites a person must be confined immediately for 10 days at a place designated by the local health director, whatever its vaccination status.
North Dakota	10 days	A healthy dog that bites someone should be confined and held for observation for 10 days, with a veterinary exam at the start and the end.
Ohio	10 days	A dog that bites a person is quarantined for ten days, or longer if the local board of health decides more time is needed.
Oklahoma	10 days	After written notice, the owner must place a dog that bit someone in the preceding 10 days under a veterinarian's supervision for 10 days from the bite, at a vet or animal control facility.
Oregon	10 days	A dog that bites a person must be held for observation until the 10th day after the bite.
Pennsylvania	10 days	A dog that bites or attacks a person must be confined right away and isolated for at least 10 days.
Rhode Island	10 days	The animal control officer orders quarantine, strict confinement at home, or observation for as long as needed to rule out rabies.
South Carolina	10 days	The county health department serves notice on the owner of a dog, cat or ferret that bit or attacked a person to quarantine it for at least 10 days, at the owner's expense, on the owner's premises or at a shelter or other place named in the notice.
South Dakota	10 days	The Department of Health may serve written notice on the owner of a dog or cat that bit or attacked a person to confine it for at least ten days, at the owner's expense, at home, at a city pound or at another place named in the notice.
Tennessee	10 days	A dog that bites a person is observed for 10 days from the bite, whether or not it is vaccinated.
Texas	10 days	A dog that bit a person is quarantined until the end of a 10-day observation period, regardless of its vaccination status, in a state-licensed quarantine facility chosen by the local rabies control authority.
Utah	10 days	A healthy dog that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days from the bite, whatever its vaccination status, as local animal control ordinances specify.
Vermont	10 days	Any dog, cat or ferret that bites a person must be confined and observed for 10 days, whatever its vaccination status.
Virginia	10 days	At the local health director's discretion, a dog that may have exposed a person is confined under observation for 10 days at the owner's expense.
Washington	10 days	When a local health officer learns that a dog, cat or ferret has bitten a person, the officer may order a healthy animal "confined in a manner the local health officer considers appropriate and observed daily for at least ten days", with any illness reported.
West Virginia	10 days	Whoever owns or harbors a dog, cat or other domestic animal that bites a person must confine it at once for 10 days of rabies observation, whether or not it is licensed.
Wisconsin	10 days	A peace officer, local health officer, humane officer or similar officer must order a dog or cat quarantined when there is reason to believe it bit a person.
Wyoming	10 days	A dog that bites may be impounded by the sheriff or animal control and quarantined for at least ten days, or longer if the state health officer decides.

Step 3: Report the bite

Report the bite to local animal control or the health department; in many states it is a legal duty, not an option. The report is what starts the rabies observation and puts the dog’s history on file.

Two examples from the state files:

Texas. Any person who knows of a bite that could transmit rabies must report it to the local rabies control authority, with the victim’s and owner’s names and addresses if known, and the authority must investigate ¹⁰. The duty covers the victim, the owner, doctors and witnesses alike. See Texas dog bite law.
California. In a declared rabies area the local health officer must be notified of every bite by an animal that can carry rabies ⁷. Because every county is a declared rabies area, every dog bite to a person in California is reportable. See California dog bite law.

Ask for the report or case number. A bite report is also how a dangerous-dog file begins: if the dog has bitten before, the report may lead to a hearing under the state’s dangerous dog law, for example the process on the Texas dangerous dog law page.

Step 4: Identify the owner and the dog

Get the owner’s name, address and phone number, and the dog’s name, breed and description. Ask for proof of rabies vaccination: the certificate or the tag number and the veterinarian’s name. This is the fact that most affects the rabies decision in Step 2.

Ask whether the owner rents or owns the home and who insures it. Homeowners and renters liability policies are the usual source of payment for dog bite injuries. If the person in control of the dog is not the owner (a dog walker, a relative, a landlord’s tenant), note both names. Some state laws reach only the owner, others the owner or keeper.

If the dog ran off, write down where it went, its collar and tags, and any witness who knows the dog. Give all of it to animal control, which can trace the owner faster than you can.

If your dog bit someone, the steps run the other way; see my dog bit someone.

Step 5: Keep evidence

Keep evidence from the first day, because state liability rules turn on facts that fade fast. Under a strict liability statute such as California’s, the owner is liable for a bite in a public place or where the victim was lawfully on private property, without proof that the owner knew the dog was dangerous ⁶. In a state that follows the common-law one bite rule, such as Texas, the victim generally has to show the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s dangerous tendencies, or was negligent ¹⁴. The dog bite laws by state guide explains each rule.

Photos. The wounds on day one and as they heal, torn clothing, the place where it happened, the gate or fence, any “beware of dog” sign.
Witnesses. Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the bite or knows of earlier incidents with the dog.
Medical records and bills. Every visit, prescription and receipt, including rabies shots and follow-up care.
The bite report and any animal control or police report number.
A short written account made the same day: time, place, what you were doing, what the owner said. Provocation and trespass are defenses in most states, so where you were and why matters (see provocation and trespass).
Lost time and costs. Missed work, child care, travel to appointments.

If the bite happened on the job, a workers’ compensation claim may apply alongside or instead of a claim against the owner; see dog bite at work.

Step 6: Insurance

Most dog bite claims are paid by the owner’s homeowners or renters insurer, and the Insurance Information Institute publishes yearly totals from insurer data ¹³. Its national figures, with claim counts and average cost per claim, are below:

Dog-related homeowners insurance liability claims in the US, 2016–2025. Source: Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and State Farm
Year	Claims	Average cost per claim	Total paid
2025	28,450	$65,450	$1,862.1 million
2024	22,658	$69,272	$1,569.6 million
2023	19,062	$58,545	$1,116.0 million
2022	17,597	$64,555	$1,136.0 million
2021	17,989	$49,025	$881.9 million
2020	17,597	$50,245	$853.7 million
2019	17,802	$44,760	$796.8 million
2018	17,297	$39,017	$674.9 million
2017	18,522	$37,051	$686.3 million
2016	18,123	$33,230	$602.2 million

Those averages come from insurers, not from court verdicts, and they say nothing about what a single case is worth; the dog bite settlements guide explains what is and isn’t known. If the insurer calls, you can ask for the claim number and the adjuster’s contact details in writing. The dog bite insurance guide covers exclusions, breed lists and policy limits.

Step 7: Know your deadline

Each state sets a deadline to file a dog bite lawsuit, and missing it usually ends the claim. In 23 jurisdictions it is two years. California’s general personal injury deadline is two years from the bite ⁸, and Texas gives two years from the day of the bite, with the time a child is under 18 not counted ¹².

Claims against a city, county or police department run on a shorter clock. In California a written claim to a public entity is due within six months ⁹. The statute of limitations guide has every state’s deadline and the rule for children:

Dog bite statute of limitations by state (state files reviewed October 2026)
State	Deadline	Statute	If the victim is a child
Alabama	2 years	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)	A child bitten before age 19 has the shorter of three years or the normal period after turning 19, so two years: until the 21st birthday.
Alaska	2 years	AS 09.10.070(a)	A child's two years do not begin until age 18.
Arizona	1 year	A.R.S. § 12-541(5); § 12-542	The time a child is under 18 is not counted, so a bitten child has until age 19 for a statutory claim and age 20 for negligence.
Arkansas	3 years	Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105	Section 16-56-116 gives a person injured before full age three years after reaching it.
California	2 years	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1	For a bitten child, the time before age 18 is not counted, so the two years run from the 18th birthday.
Colorado	2 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a)	A child under 18 with no court-appointed guardian or conservator has until the later of the normal two years or two years after turning 18.
Connecticut	3 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577	Connecticut has no general tolling for minors: the annotations to § 52-584 note it "provides no exceptions for minors".
Delaware	2 years	10 Del. C. § 8119	Delaware's savings rule for minors, § 8116, applies only to actions under §§ 8101–8115, and the personal-injury section is § 8119.
District of Columbia	3 years	D.C. Code § 12-301(8)	If the bitten person was under 18 when the claim arose, the clock does not start until their 18th birthday, so the three-year period runs to age 21; § 12-302 sets no shorter cap.
Florida	2 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a); § 95.11(3)(e)	Florida does not pause the deadline for a child who has a parent or guardian.
Georgia	2 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33	A child bitten before turning 18 has the same two years after the 18th birthday, so until age 20.
Hawaii	2 years	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7	If the bitten person was under 18, HRS § 657-13 lets them sue any time before 18 and within two years after turning 18, so until their 20th birthday.
Idaho	2 years	Idaho Code § 5-219(4)	The two years do not run while the injured person is under 18.
Illinois	2 years	735 ILCS 5/13-202	If the bitten person was under 18, the 2 years start on their 18th birthday, so the suit can be filed until age 20.
Indiana	2 years	IC 34-11-2-4	A person under a legal disability when the claim accrues has two years after the disability ends to sue.
Iowa	2 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(2)	The deadline is extended for a minor so that the child has one year after reaching majority, which is age 18 in Iowa, to sue; in practice until the 19th birthday.
Kansas	2 years	K.S.A. 60-513(a)(4)	A child bitten before 18 may sue within one year after turning 18, but no claim may be filed more than eight years after the bite.
Kentucky	1 year	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a)	For a child, the one year runs from the 18th birthday, so a bitten child has until age 19.
Louisiana	2 years	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1	Prescription runs against minors unless a law makes an exception, and article 3493.1 makes one only for product liability claims, so a parent must file a bitten child's claim within the same two years.
Maine	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752	If the injured person is a minor, the six years run from the day they turn 18.
Maryland	3 years	Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101	When a child is bitten, § 5-201 lets the child file within three years after the disability of minority ends, so in most cases until the 21st birthday.
Massachusetts	3 years	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A	If the injured person is a minor, the three years run from the day the disability ends, that is, from the 18th birthday, so suit can be brought until age 21.
Michigan	3 years	MCL 600.5805(2)	A child bitten before 18 has one year after turning 18 to sue, even if the three-year period has run.
Minnesota	6 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.05, subd. 1	A child's period is suspended while the child is under 18, but the extension cannot run more than one year after the 18th birthday.
Mississippi	3 years	Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49	Mississippi defines a minor as a person under 21.
Missouri	5 years	RSMo § 516.120(4)	If the bitten person was under 21 when bitten, the five years run from the 21st birthday, so a suit can be filed until age 26.
Montana	3 years	Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(1)	If the bitten person is under 18 when the claim arises, the time of minority is not counted, so the 3 years start at 18 and run to the 21st birthday.
Nebraska	4 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207	The clock does not run while the child is "within the age of twenty years".
Nevada	2 years	NRS 11.190(4)(e)	The time a victim is under 18 does not count, so a bitten child has until two years after their 18th birthday, with no cap in the statute.
New Hampshire	3 years	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I	A child may bring a personal action within two years after the disability of infancy is removed, which in New Hampshire is the 18th birthday, so until age 20.
New Jersey	2 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2(a)	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-21 lets a person injured as a minor sue within two years after turning 18.
New Mexico	3 years	NMSA 1978, § 37-1-8	Under § 37-1-10 a child has one year after turning 18 to sue. *Gomez v.
New York	3 years	N.Y. CPLR 214(5)	If the bitten person was under 18, CPLR 208(a) extends the time to three years after the 18th birthday, so suit can be filed until the child turns 21; the ten-year outer limit in § 208 does not apply to infancy.
North Carolina	3 years	N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5), (16)	A child's claim is tolled until age 18, and the child then has the full three years, so until the 21st birthday.
North Dakota	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(5)	Time while the child is under 18 does not count, but the extension cannot run "longer than one year after the disability ceases".
Ohio	2 years	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.10(A)	If the bitten person was under 18, the two years start on their 18th birthday, so the child has until age 20 to sue.
Oklahoma	2 years	12 O.S. § 95(A)(3)	A person under a legal disability when the claim accrues may sue within one year after the disability is removed, so a bitten child generally has until one year after turning 18.
Oregon	2 years	ORS 12.110(1)	The two years are tolled while the child is under 18, but the extension may not exceed five years or run past one year after the 18th birthday, whichever comes first.
Pennsylvania	2 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524(2)	If the child was an unemancipated minor when bitten, time before the 18th birthday does not count.
Rhode Island	3 years	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)	If the bitten person was under 18, the three years run from the 18th birthday, so the suit can be filed until age 21.
South Carolina	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)	Time while the child is under 18 is not counted, but the deadline cannot be extended to more than one year after the 18th birthday, so a child has until the later of three years after the bite or age 19.
South Dakota	3 years	SDCL 15-2-14(3)	The time a child is under 18 does not count, but the extension cannot run "longer than one year after the disability ceases".
Tennessee	1 year	Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 28-3-104, 44-8-413(d)	For a child under 18 at the time of the bite, § 28-1-106 stops the clock until the 18th birthday, so the child then has one year to sue. *Tate v.
Texas	2 years	Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003	The time a child is under 18 is not counted, and the statute sets no outer cap, so a bitten child has until their 20th birthday to sue.
Utah	3 years	Utah Code §§ 78B-2-305(1)(a)(iv), 78B-2-307(4)	The limitations period does not run while the injured person is under 18, so a bitten child's own claim can be filed after the child turns 18.
Vermont	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512(4)	If the bitten person is a minor when the claim accrues, the three years run from when the disability ends.
Virginia	2 years	Va. Code § 8.01-243(A)	A child's claim does not start running until the child turns 18; the child then has the normal two years, so suit must be filed before the 20th birthday.
Washington	3 years	RCW 4.16.080(2)	Time while the injured person is under 18 does not count, so a bitten child has until three years after their 18th birthday.
West Virginia	2 years	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)	If the bitten person is a minor, the two years start on their 18th birthday, but no suit can be filed more than 20 years after the bite.
Wisconsin	3 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)(a)	A child under 18 when bitten may sue within two years after turning 18, and this never shortens the regular three-year period, so the deadline is the later of three years from the bite or the 20th birthday.
Wyoming	4 years	W.S. 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)	A child bitten before 18 may sue within three years after turning 18, or within the normal four years if that is later.

To see how your state’s rule, defenses and deadline fit your facts, the dog bite claim checker walks through them question by question.

Questions

Do I need a rabies shot after a dog bite?

Not always. If the dog is healthy and can be confined and observed for 10 days, CDC guidance allows rabies post-exposure prophylaxis to be withheld and started only if the dog shows signs of rabies⁵. If the dog cannot be found or its vaccination is unknown, a doctor or the health department decides after a risk assessment³.

Should I go to the doctor for a small dog bite?

The CDC says to see a healthcare provider if the wound is deep or becomes infected, if you don't know whether the dog is vaccinated against rabies, or if your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago¹. Infection signs include redness, pain, swelling and fever¹.

Is it mandatory to report a dog bite?

In many states, yes. Texas requires anyone who knows of a bite that could transmit rabies to report it to the local rabies control authority¹⁰, and California's rule makes every dog bite to a person reportable to the local health officer⁷. Each state page lists its own reporting rule.

How long do I have to file a dog bite claim?

It depends on the state. California and Texas both allow two years for a personal injury suit⁸¹², but claims against a city or county can require written notice within months⁹. The full list is in the statute of limitations guide.

Can I get in trouble for reporting my neighbor's dog?

A bite report starts a public health process, mainly the 10-day observation of the dog⁴. Whether the owner faces a dangerous-dog proceeding or a fine depends on state and local law and on the facts, not on who made the report.

Sources

Dogs (Healthy Pets, Healthy People), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 15 June 2026.
Rabies Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 1 July 2025.
Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Guidance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 10 September 2026.
Rabies: Information for Veterinarians, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 16 July 2025.
Human Rabies Prevention, United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (MMWR 57(RR-3)), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Checked 23 May 2008.
Cal. Civ. Code § 3342, California Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17, § 2606 (Rabies, Animal), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked 17 October 2026.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, California Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2, California Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 826 (Rabies Control Act), Texas Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
25 Tex. Admin. Code § 169.27, Bite Incidents, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Checked 17 October 2026.
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 16 (§ 16.003), Texas Legislature. Checked 17 October 2026.
Spotlight on: Dog bite liability, Insurance Information Institute. Checked 17 October 2026.
Marshall v. Ranne, 511 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. 1974), CourtListener. Checked 17 October 2026.

What to Do After a Dog Bite: Medical, Legal and Insurance Steps