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1. How do I keep from getting rabies?

Never touch unfamiliar or wild animals. Enjoy wild animals from afar. Avoid direct contact with stray animals. Stray cats and dogs may not have been vaccinated against rabies. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. It is common to want to rescue and nurse a hurt wild animal, but that animal may have rabies. Call an animal control person or animal rescue group if you find a sick animal. Make sure that your trash cans and pet foods are secured so that they do not attract wild animals

2. What do I do if I am bitten by an animal?

If you are bitten by an animal, tell an adult immediately! Have the adult wash the wound well with soap and water for at least five minutes. You should then see a doctor as soon as possible for additional evaluation of the wound. Have an adult contact your local animal control officer. If the animal that bit you is a pet (dog, cat, or ferret), the animal may be watched for signs of rabies for about 10 days. If it is a wild animal, the animal control people may need to euthanize the animal to test its brain for rabies.

Bites from bats are the main source of rabies in humans in the United States today. It is possible, but rare, that someone might be bitten by the bat and not know it. If you discover a bat in the house, especially in the room of a sleeping person or child, treat this situation as though an actual bite has occurred. This is especially true if the bat is acting strangely (unusually tame). Contact your local or state health department for more information.

3. What do I do if someone else's dog bites me?

If someone else's dog bites you, contact Bowie Police Communications at 940-872-2251 to report the bite (this is required by law) and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner's name, if you know it; color of the dog; size; where you saw it; and if you've seen it before. These details may help animal control officers locate the dog.

Dogs are wonderful companions. By acting responsibly, owners not only reduce the number of dog bites, but also enhance the relationships they have with their dogs.