Dog Bite Reports and Rabies Quarantine

Why bites must be reported

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable if a person gets medical care quickly. That is why California requires every bite from a mammal to be reported to the local health officer, and why the animal that bit is checked. In Riverside County, the report normally goes to the animal control agency for the city where the bite happened (see the directory by city); the County's rabies guide for clinicians says to report bites to Animal Control or the local police department.

California's rules

Reporting	California regulation (17 CCR § 2606) requires that all bites from mammals, the animals that can carry rabies, be reported to the local health officer. [source]
Quarantine	Because a rabid dog or cat predictably dies within a known time, rabies can be ruled out if the dog or cat stays healthy and alive 10 or more days after the bite. [source]
Release	An animal may be released from quarantine only by authority of the local health officer. [source]
Violations	Concealing the location of a biting animal or violating a quarantine order is a misdemeanor under state law. [source]
Records and evidence	Information collected during an animal bite investigation may be subject to subpoena if legal action is pursued. [source]

Riverside County's rules

The County's own animal control ordinance and the County public health guide set these quarantine periods:

Quarantine	When an animal has bitten a person, the owner must, on the Director's order, quarantine it at the owner's expense for at least 10 days (dogs and cats) or 14 days (other animals), and allow the Director to examine it. [source]
Violations	Violating a home quarantine, failing to produce an animal for quarantine, or interfering with a rabies investigation is a misdemeanor. [source]

Reporting a bite	Treat the wound, then report the bite to Animal Control or the local police department. [source]
Quarantine	Quarantine: dogs or cats for 10 days; livestock for 14 days of observation. [source]

Local agencies apply these rules in practice. The Hemet Police Department, for example, lists impoundment and quarantine of dangerous or vicious dogs among the County services available to Hemet residents. [source]

What happens to the dog

After a report, the agency identifies the dog and its owner, checks its rabies vaccination, and orders a quarantine. A dog or cat that stays healthy for 10 days after the bite could not have transmitted rabies through that bite. Quarantine can be at a shelter, a veterinary hospital or, when the risk is judged low, the owner's home. Only the local health officer can release the animal, and hiding a biting animal or breaking a quarantine order is a misdemeanor. State law requires dogs in rabies areas to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies (Health & Safety Code § 121690), so the report is also how an unvaccinated or unlicensed dog comes to light.

Your medical care

Wound care	Wash animal bite wounds immediately with soap and water. [source]
Medical care	Talk to a healthcare provider right away after an animal bite; a doctor can decide whether you need a vaccine to prevent rabies. [source]
Why speed matters	Rabies is 100% preventable in people who get medical care right away after an animal bite, but once symptoms begin it is almost always fatal. [source]
Vaccination	All dogs in California are required to be vaccinated against rabies. [source]

Why the report helps an injury claim

It fixes the facts early: the date, place, the dog, the owner and how the bite happened, recorded by a public agency.
It identifies the owner, which matters because California places liability for bites on the owner (Civil Code § 3342).
It creates a bite history. A second reported bite can support a court action to control the dog (Civil Code § 3342.5) or a potentially dangerous dog proceeding.
It can be obtained for a case: state guidance notes that bite investigation information may be subject to subpoena if legal action is pursued.

Rabies in Riverside County

Rabies in Riverside County	Riverside County reported 18 rabid bats in 2025 as of late October, up from 15 in 2024; bats are the most common source of rabies in California. [source]
Advice	Public Health advises reporting possible exposures to animal control or Public Health. [source]

Common questions

Will the dog be taken away?

Not usually. Healthy, vaccinated dogs are often allowed to serve the quarantine at home if the owner can keep the dog isolated; otherwise it may be held at a shelter or veterinary hospital at the owner's expense. The local agency decides.

The dog's owner says it is vaccinated. Do I still need to report?

Yes. The reporting rule applies to bites from mammals whether or not the animal is vaccinated, and the quarantine requirement described by Animal Friends of the Valleys applies whether or not the biting animal has been vaccinated.

Can I get a copy of the bite report?

Ask the agency that took the report how to request it and write down the case number. State public health guidance notes that bite investigation records may be subject to subpoena in a legal case.

What if a wild animal or a bat bit me?

Get medical advice right away and report it. Bats are the most common source of rabies in California, and Riverside County reported more rabid bats in 2025 than in 2024.

Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.

Dog bite reports and rabies quarantine in Riverside County