What to Do after a Dog Bite
In New York City, hundreds of people are bitten by animals each year. The New York City Health Code requires that all animal bites be reported within 24 hours of their occurrence. The purpose of the law is so allow the Department of Health to follow up and ensure that the threat of rabies does not exist in the person or the animal.
Apart from the threat of rabies, the law also provides another benefit; evidence that an animal has bitten a person before. Too many times, Staten Island residents are the victims of dogs that have bitten people before. When asked, the owner typically says that the dog is "really gentle" and "never bit anyone before." If the victim of the previous bite followed the law and reported the incident, a permanent record was made. By conducting a Freedom of Information Law search through the New York City Department of Health, any subsequent victim can find out if the dog's owner is lying.
As one of the five borough's, Staten Island can be crowded. Sometimes, when living in a multiple family home, we can be put into close contact with dogs. The breed of dog that we come into contact with may not be the best to be kept in an apartment building near other residents. By reporting the bite, we can all help make Staten island a safer place to live.
