My Child was bitten by a dog... What should I do?

Here is what to do if your child is bitten by a dog...

Obtain immediate medical attention; ensure that other children do not remain in danger from the same dog while you attend to the injured child.

Report the bite to your local health department. It is essential to find out whether the dog has had its vaccinations. Do not take the owner's word for this and do not worry about the dog owner "getting in trouble". Your child's health is more important than your relationship with the dog owner.

Report the bite to your local animal services or animal control officer. If you do not know who this is, call your local town hall to find out who is responsible for animal control and public safety in your area. It is important that a record be established for the dog so that if it has bitten before, or does so again there is basis for taking further action.

Report the bite to police - they will be able to tell you whether the situation warrants a police investigation.

If you feel that other children remain in danger because of the dog and lack of supervision, report this to your local children's services agency so that they can investigate and take action if required.

Obtain a professional opinion about the need for trauma counseling if your child seems fearful, acts differently from normal, suffers from nightmares or otherwise seems upset or disturbed in the days following the incident.

If you would like to speak to others who have had a similar experience, join the Doggone Safe Victim Support Group.

If you feel that you need information about legal issues related to the bite incident, visit the Dog Bite Law Center online.

If you would like information about plastic surgery for dog bite victims visit the website of Dr. Bermant.

Article supplied by: http://www.doggonesafe.com