Section 7 - Reporting Animal Bites to Animal Control

The local animal control authority should be notified of any animal bite. Animal control can assist with capture of the animal, place the animals under confinement, and work with the animal owner to control the behavior of the animal.

The bite victim should be advised to contact the appropriate animal control agency directly so that a complete description and location of the animal can be obtained.

The following are the telephone numbers of the animal control authorities in Seattle and King County:

• Des Moines: 206-870-6549
• King County: 206-296-7387, selection 2
• Renton: 425-430-7550
• Seattle: 206-386-7387

If quarantine or confinement of the animal is required, the animal's owner is responsible for managing the 10-day quarantine period. Animal control will provide quarantine housing in situations in which the owner is not able to provide and will also provide it if there is reason to believe that the owner will not comply with the required procedures. During the quarantine period the owner is responsible for notifying the Animal Control Officer of unusual behaviors, symptoms or death of the animal.

The Public Health animal bite investigator will review animal bite assessments in which quarantine was imposed and will check with animal control and the animal owner to assess the status of the animal at the end of the 10-day quarantine period.

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