What to Do After an Animal Attack

Phoenix Lawyers Providing Support After an Animal Attack

Many people who have been bitten by dogs or other animals are unsure what actions to take. The attorneys at Solomon & Relihan have been helping dog bite victims since 1974. Knowledgeable about the Arizona dog bite law, they can guide animal attack victims to the best possible results.

What to Do if You Have Been Bitten

Get medical attention. If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a dog bite or animal attack, medical care should come first. For injuries that may seem more severe, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher's instructions until paramedics arrive.

Even if an ambulance is not required, call a doctor or visit an emergency clinic. You may have been exposed to rabies. Rabies is more common after a wild animal attack, but should be considered after a dog bite as well. If you do not know whether the dog that bit you was immunized, treat any dog bite as having the potential to cause rabies infection. Your doctor may give you antibiotics and suggest a rabies vaccine series.

If a facial injury is involved, the decisions you make immediately after the animal attack can make a huge difference on the amount of treatment you will need later. It can be a good idea to request a plastic surgeon to do the careful facial stitches that minimize scarring.

Report the attack to your local animal control center. Tell animal control everything you can about the dog, so that animal control officers can locate it and take appropriate action:

• Owner's name (if applicable)
• Color and size of the animal
• Where you saw the animal
• Whether you have seen the animal before

Animal control may often quarantine the animal for 10 days to check for the risk of rabies or other diseases.

The names and contact information for some of the largest Arizona animal control facilities are below:

Maricopa County Maricopa County Animal Care Center
602-506-PETS

West Valley
2500 South 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009

East Valley
2630 West 8th Street
Mesa, AZ 85201

Pinal County Animal Care and Control
520-509-3555
888-431-1311

764 S Eleven Mile Corner Rd
Casa Grande, AZ 85294

Pima Animal Care Center
520-243-5900

4000 N. Silverbell Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85745

Coconino Animal Management
928-226-2717

2500 N. Ft. Valley, #1
Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Call a lawyer. If you are considering legal action or lawsuit after a dog bite, talk to us about your options. Legal action can be a good way to hold an animal owner accountable for the pain, lost income, disfigurement, and medical bills caused by their pet's actions. For a free initial consultation, contact Solomon & Relihan. Home and hospital visits are available for your convenience.