CONTACT US
Environmental Health Services
Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
3160 Center Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: (503) 588-5346
Fax: (503) 566-2986
Email: EnvironmentalHealth@co.marion.or.us
Animal Bites and Confinement
Marion County Environmental Health follows up on reported animal bites that occur within Marion County. The main concern is the risk of rabies. All mammals can get rabies but bats are the main carrier of rabies in Oregon.
Rabies virus does not penetrate intact skin or clothing. Thus, unless there is a history of a bite that broke the skin, or saliva contact with broken skin or mucous membranes (including the eyes), there was no exposure. Those who merely pet a dog or pick up a bat later found to be rabid, for example, have not had a significant exposure. If there was no exposure, then there is no risk.
When a domestic pet (dog, cat, or ferret) bites a human, that animal must be placed in confinement for a period of ten (10) days following the bite.
If the animal has valid rabies shots, the owner can release the animal from confinement 10 days from the date of the bite, if the animal is healthy.
An animal without valid rabies shots must be confined and can only be released by a Registered Environmental Health Specialist or a Licensed Veterinarian.
“Confinement” means the animal is confined and held for observation without access to the outdoors. When necessary, dogs may be taken outside, but must be on a leash at all times. Human contact with the animal should be limited to one person daily. The animal may not have contact with other animals or people.
If an animal in confinement becomes ill or the owner notices unusual behavior in the animal, this should be reported immediately to
Marion County Environmental Health at 503-588-5346.
Dogs that have caused severe bites may require confinement at Marion County Dog Services. If you have questions about enforcement of Marion County Dog Control Rules (Chapter 6.05), please call
Marion County Dog Services at 503-588-5233.
If a wild animal (squirrels, rats, bats, etc.) causes a bite, follow-up cannot be done unless the animal can be captured, killed and tested. The bite victim should cleanse the wound well and get medical treatment, if needed.
While almost all mammals can be experimentally infected with the rabies virus, in real life many species are essentially rabies-free, due to both behavioral and dietary characteristics as well as innate resistance to the virus. Lagomorphs (e.g., rabbits, hares), small rodents (e.g., mice, rats, squirrels, gerbils, hamsters), and cervids (e.g., deer, elk) all fall into this category. Absent extraordinary circumstances (genuinely "unprovoked" bites), bites by these animals do not merit follow-up for rabies.
Animal Bite Reporting Forms
English
Spanish
Marion County Dog Services
Bats and Rabies (CDC)
Rabies Information (CDC)
Rabies Information (OHA)
Email Privacy: While we are happy to answer general questions via email, we suggest you do not transmit personal or health related information in your message. We cannot meet any expectation you might have of confidentiality when you communicate with us over the Internet. If you have a specific personal or health-related issue, please call the appropriate county government office instead.
Email address: health@co.marion.or.us
To report a public health emergency, or make an urgent report of communicable disease, call (503) 588-5621 at anytime.
