Child Bitten at Home Depot on McCain Drive in Frederick;
Seeking Owner of Black and Tan German Shepherd Dog
FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) received a report from Frederick County Animal Control (FCAC) that a 5-year-old was bitten by an unidentified dog on September 7, 2013, around 11:40 am at the Home Depot on 51 N. McCain Drive in Frederick. The FCHD needs to locate the owner of the dog so that the bite victim may avoid receiving unnecessary post-exposure rabies vaccinations.
The FCAC Officer advised that the unidentified black-and-tan German Shepherd was inside the Home Depot with its male owner. Anyone within the area who has information about the owner’s identity is asked to contact the FCHD at 301-600-1717 or FCAC at 301-600-1544.
George Keller, Director for the Health Department’s Environmental Health Services advises the public, “To protect your family from possible rabies exposure, do not touch or play with wild or stray animals and make sure that your pets are currently vaccinated.” If your pets need a rabies vaccination, the FCHD is having rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets at Thurmont Community Park on September 10, 2013 and at Ballenger Creek Park on September 12, 2013. Go to http://frederickcountymd.gov/index.aspx?NID=2436 for more clinic details.
Rabies is a viral disease that infects mostly mammals (warm-blooded animals who nurse their young) and is spread by the saliva of the infected animal. Human cases of rabies are fatal if untreated. Symptoms of rabies in animals can include fear of water, limping, salivating, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, or other atypical behaviors such as nocturnal animals emerging during the daytime.
If you or someone in your family is bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, you should contact FCAC for assistance at 301-600-1544. Please attempt to obtain contact information from the animal owner so that appropriate action can be taken.
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