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My unvaccinated puppy bit my child. Will animal control euthanize him?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered

My puppy bit my daughter and i took hwr to thw ER. They told me to call animal control to see if they have to quarantine him and im afraid they will kill him. Hes around 3 to 4 month and an inside dog but never had his shots. People tell me most likely he doesnt have rabies but im scared for my daughter. Please help me. What should i do His a Chihuahua mixed with winnie dog.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 6, 2018

The biggest concern with a dog bite is the potential for the spread of rabies. I assume that you were already told this and this would be the reason for needing to involve animal control. In the vast majority of cases, there is no need to euthanize the dog and it depends on the risk of the dog having rabies (it is often a small chance). The only reason that Osito would need to be euthanized is if he has a big risk of carrying the disease. The reason for euthanizing is that there is only one way to diagnose rabies, which involves testing the brain. Since rabies is 100% fatal, there are occasions when a dog is euthanized in order to potentially save a person's life.

I know this answer is still a bit vague and that's because it really depends on the circumstance. He will definitely need to be quarantined
(might be able to do this at home), but I would not be too worried about him being euthanized against your will. It's best to call Animal Control, so you can get more information and ensure everyone is safe. Below is a link to more information about the protocol followed after a dog bite.

https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/specific_groups/veterinarians/person_bitten.html

I hope that helps and all is well with all involved.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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