Animal Bites & Rabies

If an animal bites you, seek medical attention immediately. State and local law requires all animal bites to be reported. To report a bite, call Catawba County Animal Services at (828) 465-8228.

Rabies is a fatal disease that is spread when an infected animal’s saliva or nervous system tissue comes in contact with a break in the skin. Rabies can be spread from animal to animal and also to people. An example of this would be through a bite from an infected animal.

To protect pets and the people they interact with, all dogs and cats more than four months of age are required by law to have a current rabies vaccination. After vaccination, a metal tag is given to the owner to place on the collar of the pet. The owner will also receive a certificate of vaccination verifying that the animal has been vaccinated, and a copy will be kept on file with Catawba County Emergency Services and the participating veterinarian.

It is illegal for an owner to fail to have his or her animal(s) vaccinated against rabies as required by state law, and they must obtain the metal tag issued upon such vaccination. It is also illegal for an owner to fail to provide his or her animal(s) with a collar to which a valid rabies tag must be attached. Additionally, it is unlawful for an owner to place on their animal a metal rabies tag not issued to that animal.

Rabies Ordinances, Policies & Resources

• Policy for Dealing with a Dog or Cat that has Bitten a Human Being
• Catawba County Public Health Rabies Handout
• Policy for Dealing with an Animal that has been Exposed to Rabies
• Rabies Ordinances
• State Rabies Information
• State Rabies Tag Database