(ITHACA, NY, March 12, 2024) – Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a dog that bit a person on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at approximately 1:00 PM, on Highland Avenue, near Westbourne Lane, in the City of Ithaca. The dog was described as a medium sized black dog with short, thick hair and upright ears on an orange leash. The dog was accompanied by a person presenting as a woman with shoulder length, light colored hair, wearing a faded dark green coat, and a second dog described as white with brown and black spotting, thick, short coat and upright ears of a similar size to the black dog.
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.
- 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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