Health Alert: TCEH Seeks Info About a Dog Bite Near The Ithaca Commons

Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at approximately 11 PM, at the corner of North Cayuga and East State Street/MLK Jr. Street, near the Cornell Store (102 E. State St.) on The Commons, in the City of Ithaca. The dog was inside a parked black SUV whose window was rolled down with no people inside. The person was bitten when they reached in through the open window to pet the dog. The dog was described as a medium to large-sized black dog, about the size of a lab.

EH seeks to verify vaccination status and health of the biting dog through an at home observation over a ten-day period. If the dog can be located and observed to be healthy by EH, the risk of rabies infection can be ruled out and rabies post-exposure treatment for the person who was bitten will not be necessary.

Anyone with information regarding this dog is urged to call EH at (607) 274-6688. Staff are available at this number to take calls related to rabies and bites, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We would like to remind the public the importance of getting bites checked as soon as possible to determine if rabies post-exposure treatment is needed.

Tompkins County Whole Health reminds everyone to:

• Avoid contact with any unfamiliar cats or dogs and any wild animals.
• All cats, dogs and ferrets must have initial rabies vaccinations administered no later than four months of age.  Keep vaccinations current! Check our website for free rabies vaccination clinics. Our next upcoming clinic will be held on Friday, October 18, from 6pm-8pm in Groton.
• Report the following incidents to Tompkins County Environmental Health at 607-274-6688:
• All animal bites or scratches.
• Any human or pet contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material (brain tissue, spinal tissue, or cerebrospinal fluid) of wild animals or any animal suspected of having rabies.
• All bat bites, scratches, or any mere skin contact with a bat, or a bat in a room with a child, or sleeping or impaired person.

Further information can be found at: tompkinscountyny.gov/health/rabies.

Tompkins County Whole Health (formerly the Tompkins County Health Department) envisions a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TompkinsWholeHealth and on Twitter at @TCWholeHealth. Get Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text, sign up here.

Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org

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