Seeing your child attacked by a dog is a parent’s worst nightmare. In seconds, a normal day becomes a traumatic blur of fear and panic. If your child was bitten, take a deep breath. You are not alone. Here are the exact steps you must take right now to protect their health, document the incident, and secure their future.
| Step | Why This Is Crucial for a Child |
|---|---|
| 1. Seek Medical Attention | Infection Prevention: Children’s immune systems are still developing. Dog mouths contain bacteria (like Pasteurella) that can cause rapid, severe infections in deep puncture wounds common in small limbs.Scarring Mitigation: Immediate professional cleaning and suturing (if needed) minimizes long-term scarring, which can be emotionally difficult for a child as they grow. |
| 2. Exchange Information | Avoid Unnecessary Treatment: Knowing the owner allows you to verify vaccination history. Without this information, doctors may be forced to administer a series of painful Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) shots to the child as a precaution. |
| 3. Report to Local NJ Authorities | Public Record & Safety: Reporting establishes a paper trail. If the dog has a history of aggression, this report helps your local Animal Control take measures to prevent the dog from biting your child (or other children in the neighborhood) again. |
| 4. Cooperate with Quarantine | Rabies Verification: The 10-day observation period is the gold standard for ruling out rabies. Confirming the dog is healthy after 10 days provides 100% medical certainty that the child is safe from the virus. |
| 5. Know Legal Rights | Future Medical Needs: Children may require future medical care such as scar revision surgery or therapy for cynophobia (fear of dogs). NJ’s Strict Liability laws ensure the owner’s insurance covers these long-term costs, protecting the family’s finances. |
The Steps to Protect Your Child After a Dog Attack In Detail:
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Even if the injury looks minor, dog bites carry a high risk of infection.
- First Aid: Wash the wound gently with soap and warm water immediately. Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding.
- See a Doctor: Visit a doctor or urgent care as soon as possible. In New Jersey, physicians must report dog bites to the local health department (usually within 12 hours), which initiates the necessary safety protocols.
- Rabies Assessment: Medical professionals will determine if rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is necessary based on the dog’s vaccination status.
2. Exchange Information & Evidence
Identify the dog and owner to determine the animal’s rabies status and for potential medical coverage.
- Get Particulars: Obtain the owner’s name, address, and phone number.
- Vaccination Proof: Ask specifically for the rabies vaccination certificate. Do not just take their word for it; ask to see the tag or paper record.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the wound, the location where it happened, and the dog (if safe to do so).
3. Report the Incident to Your New Jersey Municipal Health Department
While your first instinct is to call the local police, you must ensure the incident is reported directly to your local Municipal Health Department.
When a dog bite report is filed in New Jersey, the municipality dispatches a licensed Animal Control Officer (ACO) to investigate the attack. The ACO plays a vital role in both your child’s immediate safety and your future legal claim. They will visit the dog’s owner, demand proof of the dog’s vaccination history, and generate an official Animal Bite Report. This government document is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence your personal injury attorney will use to prove liability under New Jersey law.
4. Cooperate with the 10-Day Quarantine
Under New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C. 8:23A), any dog that bites a human—regardless of its vaccination status or past behavior—must undergo a mandatory 10-day rabies observation quarantine.
As a parent, this 10-day window is incredibly stressful, but the Animal Control Officer manages the entire process. Here is what happens:
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The ACO legally mandates the quarantine, which is most often completed at the dog owner’s home at the owner’s expense.
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The dog cannot be rehomed, sold, or euthanized during this window.
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The ACO will examine the dog at the beginning and the end of the ten days to check for clinical signs of rabies.
If the local authorities clear the dog of infection at the end of the quarantine, it provides absolute medical certainty that the virus was not transmitted. This spares your child from having to endure a series of painful Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) injections.
5. Know Your Legal Rights Under New Jersey’s Strict Liability Statute
New Jersey is a “Strict Liability” state for dog bites (N.J.S.A. 4:19-16).
- What this Means: The dog owner is liable for your child’s injuries even if the dog has never bitten anyone before and even if the owner took reasonable precautions. There is no “one free bite” rule in NJ.
- Next Steps: Keep records of all medical bills, co-pays, and lost work time. You may want to consult a New Jersey dog bite attorney to ensure the dog owner’s homeowner’s insurance covers these medical costs.
With over 40 years of experience and a track record as the New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer with the most six-figure settlements, David Cowhey is your first call after your child is bitten by a dog. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1 (609) 513-0627. You don’t pay unless your child receives a dog bite settlement.
