(Ithaca, NY – June 14, 2023) – Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at approximately 1:00pm, in the City of Ithaca, near the intersection of Dey Street, Hancock Street, and Auburn Street (close to the Auburn Street Playground and Park). The dog is described as a large, tan and white, short haired hound or pit bull mix with a half white and half tan face and floppy ears. The dog was on a leash, accompanied by a young, Black man, possibly in his 20s, with shorter hair, wearing darker clothing.
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 the Tompkins County Environmental Health Division at (607) 274-6688. Staff are on-call at this number to field 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, held annually in the spring and fall.
- 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.
Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org
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