Animal Bites/Rabies

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The Environmental Health Division investigates all reported domestic and wild mammal bites.

State and Local regulations require the quarantine of dogs, cats, and ferrets involved in human bites to prevent the spread of rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals and people. It is almost always fatal.

The rabies virus is found in the saliva of affected animals, most often raccoons, skunks and bats, and is spread by a bite or scratch. Bats, raccoons and skunks pose the greatest risk of rabies in Ohio. To protect your family against this still-deadly disease:

• Avoid contact with wild animals and animals you do not know.
• Vaccinate your pets against rabies and keep them current on their shots.
• If bitten, call your doctor. If your pet has contact with a wild animal, call your veterinarian. Rabies exposures should also be reported to your LHD.