County Report: Dog Bite Cases Rise

Reports of dog bites and other animal attacks in Los Angeles County have increased recently, however, a majority of animal bites still go unreported, according to county officials.

A county report released May 19 shows that 7,623 dog bites and 939 cat bites were reported to the county in 2009 compared to 5,066 dog bites and 786 cat bites reported in 2006 (see accompanying report under photo.)

Emergency room visits due to dog bites also jumped, from 7,054 in 2006 to 8,353 in 2009, according to the report.

But "only 5 percent of animal bites in the county are reported,” said Jonathan Fielding, the county director of public health and health officer, in a statement.

“It is important to report animal bites for many health-related reasons, including rabies control and assisting health authorities in tracking trends in animal bites," Fielding said.

State Farm Insurance Company reported in May that California led the nation in the company's dog bite claims last year with 369 claims totaling more than $11 million—and many bite victims were children.

Here are the top 10 states that reported the most dog bite claims to State Farm last year:

State

Number of claims

Claims paid (estimated)

California

369

$11,296,642

Illinois

317

$9,757,693

Ohio

215

$5,729,886

Texas

202

$3,694,958

Michigan

166

$5,181,503

Pennsylvania

155

$3,931,039

Florida

146

$5,608,009

Minnesota

139

$3,454,669

New York

119

$4,343,448

Indiana

114

$1,797,108

If you had to seek medical attention for an animal bite, the county suggests reporting the bite to your physician, who would subsequently notify the county.

In all other cases, the county encourages residents to report animal bites directly to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at 213-989-7060 or online.

If your dog bites someone, State Farm suggests following these steps:

• Restrain the dog immediately and separate it from the scene of the attack.
• Check on the victim's condition. Wash wounds with soap and water. Professional medical advice should be sought to evaluate the risk of rabies or other infections. Call 911 if paramedic response is required.
• Provide important information to officials, giving your name and address and information about your dog's most recent rabies vaccination. If your dog does not have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to quarantine it or even euthanize it for rabies testing. The person bitten may need to undergo rabies treatment.
• Also report the bite to your insurance company.
• Comply with city and county ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites.
• Consult your veterinarian for advice about dog behavior that will help prevent similar problems in the future.

"Residents who are concerned with what happens to an animal after a bite is reported should be reassured that biting animals are not always considered to be dangerous animals. Animals are assessed on a case-by-case basis," Fielding said.