Our Pittsburgh lawyers regularly advise victims of a dog bites at every stage, including how to report a dog bite to authorities right up through settlement or trial of the civil case for compensation for injuries. We also attend criminal hearings related to the attack that caused our client’s injuries.
The focus of this article is how to report the attack to the appropriate authorities for investigation.
Reporting a Medical Emergency
First of all, call 911 for any medical emergency relating to a dog bite, requiring an ambulance, hospital care, risk of contracting infectious disease, and/or police protection from a dog running at large in Pennsylvania.
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Reporting a Dog Attack For Investigation in Western PA
The attack will also need to be investigated thoroughly. Our Pittsburgh dog bite firm will direct you to the appropriate County and/or municipal authority to investigate the dog bite or animal attack (not necessarily the police).
Call our rapid response line for free help:
Free Assistance: 412.400.5476
Or simply scroll down for further directions.
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Investigation in Allegheny County
Reporting a dog bite for follow-up requires that you contact animal control — not necessarily the police, as mentioned. The dog warden is best suited to evaluate disease and vaccination-related issues.
It’s important to contact the appropriate animal control division in your county. For example, in Allegheny County — including Pittsburgh — contact County animal control at: (412) 418-2163.
Use this link to report the attack online.
The online form is thorough. However, answering “unknown” is OK for many questions. You’re just reporting the incident so Animal Control can follow up to ensure the dog is up-to-date on vaccinations for rabies and possibly quarantined. This is not the time to “win your case.” Let the investigation play out. Our Pittsburgh Dog Bite Lawyers regularly work with animal control in counties across PA to get compensation for victims of animal attacks.
But for now, please focus on saying what you know — for sure — (without speculation) to help protect your health and safety at this stage. And take pictures of the injuries, animal, and scene where it happened, when it’s safe to do so.
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Attacks Within the City of Pittsburgh
For attacks within the City of Pittsburgh, you should also report the incident to the City of Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Animal Care and Control at (412) 255-2036.
Office: (Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.) 412-255-2036.
Emergencies: (11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday & After 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays) 412-255-2935.
Daily Operations: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. & 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There, you will give: (1) name; (2) age; (3) sex; (4) address; and (5) date of the attack. If you are familiar with the dog and/or its owner, provide the Bureau with the dog’s: (1) breed; (2) sex; (3) age; (4) color; and (5) the dog owner will be asked to provide a history of vaccination. Then, a police officer — or more likely some member of animal control — will take over and investigate the incident.
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Mt Lebanon PA Animal Control
For attacks in Mount Lebanon, call (412) 279-6911. Here is the link for Mt. Lebanon Police Animal Control.
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Other Western PA Counties
Armstrong 724-548-1477
Beaver 724-773-7416
Butler 724-287-8549
Monessen 724-684-2933
Washington 724-223-4677
Westmoreland 724-832-5327
Mercer 724-662-4005
Chester 610-394-5405
All other County reports — 724-832-5327
Here’s a link For the Dog Warden in Every PA County for Reporting
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Let’s Get Started!
Our Pittsburgh dog bite lawyers routinely help the victims of dog bites — including children and adults — get the compensation they deserve for pain, suffering, lost earning opportunity, emotional distress, disfigurement, and more. The consultation is 100 percent free. Call or email a Pittsburgh attorney today!
414.400.5476
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT REPORTING AN ANIMAL ATTACK
FAQS
What Should I Say To Animal Control?
As Sgt. Joe Friday would say, “Just the facts, ma’am.”
You’re just reporting the incident so Animal Control can follow up to ensure the dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and possibly quarantined. You’re not expected to have all the answers. Thus, you’re giving animal control enough information for them to investigate the key questions:
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- Is the animal up-to-date on rabies and other vaccinations?
- Has the dog been dangerously aggressive before, requiring it to be terminated immediately?
- Does the dog present a current danger to society?
- Are you — or others — at risk for disease from the attack?
Above all, there’s no need to speculate. Any speculation on your part — that turns out to be factually incorrect — can be used against you. So just report the information you know for sure to be true, such as: if you saw a man and woman walking a dog that attacked you, that’s all you would report. You don’t assume the man and woman are married, or boyfriend-and-girlfriend, i.e., just report the facts you’ve witnessed.
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What If I Don’t Know the Exact Breed or Mix?
On the Allegheny County online form, you’ll be asked many questions, including what “breed” of dog attacked you. Several dozen breeds are listed in the drop down. But don’t worry: if it’s a mix of any kind, the last option on the dropdown is “mixed.” This is a totally acceptable answer.
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What if the Police “Aren’t Doing Anything”?
Try not to get frustrated with the police; it’s not their job to investigate a dog’s history of vaccination or prior attacks. In fact, pursuant to amendments to PA dog bite law, the county health department — not local police — is primarily responsible for investigating animal attacks. In fact, as of October 8, 2009, Act 119 of the Dangerous Dogs Law overrides all local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs. It’s the job of County law enforcement — not necessarily local police — to investigate dog bites in Pennsylvania.
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Why is County Health Department or Animal Control Primarily Involved?
A County department of health has training and expertise in disease management and control. The County Department of Health and/or “dog warden” also maintains a database on particular dogs and their owners who have been reported in the past. This allows dangerous dogs to be identified.
The police, by way of contracts, exist to keep the peace. Granted, they have access to the criminal docket, to look for outstanding warrants, for example. However, the police don’t maintain a database on particular dog owners who have not been charged, previously.
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Will the Police Ever Investigate and Provide Helpful Information?
Definitely, yes.
Many police go above and beyond, providing detailed reports that include admissions by the dog owner, which are extremely helpful in our civil cases. For example, even if the police appear to do “nothing,” sometimes we come to learn they prepared a report that includes an admission by the defendant-dog owner, which can be used against him in court, civilly. A few words, alone, in the police report, can dramatically help our civil case. For example, a dog owner saying “our dog only attacks other dogs,” if noted by police, can benefit from enough to prove prior aggression in our civil claim.
Thus, try to work with police, especially when it seems they’re not taking the case seriously.
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Who Brings the Criminal Charges Against Those Responsible for the Dog?
Once again, it’s County animal control or the “dog warden” who typically takes lead, this time, advancing criminal charges against the person who owned — or harbored — the dog responsible for the attack.
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Let’s Get Started!
Contact a dog bite lawyer at our firm about handling your dog bite claim. We’ll also help you notify County Animal Control, whether the attack is in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County), Beaver County, Butler County, or Washington County, Westmoreland County.
412.400.5476