Health Alert: TCEH Seeks Info About a Dog Bite

Published on November 12, 2024

Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Monday, November 11, 2024, at approximately 3:15 PM, near the UPS Store at 407 College Avenue, Ithaca. The person was bit on their hand and ankle when they retrieved a glove they had dropped. EH seeks to verify the biting dog’s vaccination status. 

The biting dog was described as a smaller dog with wide shoulders and head, approximately 1.5 feet in length, possibly a beagle mix, with short hair and distinct white/brown/dark brown patches. The dog was with a person who presented as a white male, approximately 6’ tall and approximately 40-50 years old. The person had a beard, and was wearing glasses, a beanie hat and a purple hoodie.  

EH seeks to verify vaccination status and the 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: 

  1. Avoid contact with any unfamiliar cats or dogs and any wild animals.

  2. All cats, dogs and ferrets must have initial rabies vaccinations administered no later than four months of age.  Keep vaccinations current! Check back to our website for our next round of free rabies vaccination clinics in 2025. For other free or low-cost rabies vaccine programs, contact the local chapter of the Street Dog Coalition or the Cornell Healthy Pet Clinic held at Ithaca’s Southside Community Center. 

  3. 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/eh/rabies. 

 

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