Proving authenticity of a dog's vaccination record?

[ManiacMan]

To make a long story short my 5 year old was bit by a dog. He was not seriously injured. However the skin was broken. So of course I am concerned about the animal's vacinations and if they are up to date.

So the pet owner said they were up to date and I get via Email a spradsheet that has some dates for when the dog was last vacinated. My thought is that anyone could punch in any old date and call it a day. Especially since there isn't a signature of the veternarian anywhere on the "document".

So how can I get something that would ease my concerns?

I live in Michigan.

[kayaker]

In Pennsylvania there is a state certified document given to you when your pet is vaccinated against rabies. It looks something like this (PDF file).

My understanding is that you are entitled to see this document in a situation like yours. Your state or county health department is the place to call if the animal's owner fails to comply. They, in turn, will use the police/courts to force compliance.

[ManiacMan]

Would Dopers here agree that a spreadsheet with the vet's letterhead at the top be good enough?

I do have the local animal control officer on the job, and he said he went to the vet and gave him a document similiar to what I recieved. But I caught the owner in a lie when this first happened and I believe that he has the potential to commit fraud if it suits him. And from what I understand the animal itself has not been picked up and placed in quarantine as of yesterday morning. It makes me wonder what's going on...because the owner is some local "celebrity" and I suspect he is pulling favors.

[Cub Mistress]

When I was bitten by an unvaccinated dog last year, the dog wasn't placed in quarantine (the dog remained with the owner), but an animal control officer examined the dog at a certain time after the bite (10 days? not sure) and the dog was showing no signs of rabies. I was in the clear and didn't have to get treatment.
I always thought officials took charge of animals and kept them in a kennel until a determination was made.

[ManiacMan]

Hmm that must be it then. The officer told me that had the dog been actually sick with rabies when he bit my child last week the dog would have been dead by the Monday or Tuesday after last Saturday. I guess I just want to see if the owner lied to me and had a pal in the vet's office adjust the record. And also to give me peace of mind. Even though the dog wasn't sick-looking when he bit...I am still worried.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

Would Dopers here agree that a spreadsheet with the vet's letterhead at the top be good enough?

I do have the local animal control officer on the job, and he said he went to the vet and gave him a document similiar to what I recieved. But I caught the owner in a lie when this first happened and I believe that he has the potential to commit fraud if it suits him. And from what I understand the animal itself has not been picked up and placed in quarantine as of yesterday morning. It makes me wonder what's going on...because the owner is some local "celebrity" and I suspect he is pulling favors.

Since you are
A) worried
B) have the Vet's name
How about printing the spreadsheet, and stopping by the Vet's office and asking if they can verify the dates in question?
Would seem to be the simple way out.

[Motorgirl]

In MA, rabies vaccinations are recorded with the state by your vet and your dog or cat is issued a paper certificate and a metal rabies tag. If I were bitten the dog or cat owner (or the vaccinating vet) would have to furnish my local board of health with the dog or cat's current rabies tag number and the vet would have to verify that the tag number belonged to that particular animal and was the current number (they get a new number every time they get vaccinated).

I would not accept a spreadsheet, nor would the board of health.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Rick

Since you are
A) worried
B) have the Vet's name
How about printing the spreadsheet, and stopping by the Vet's office and asking if they can verify the dates in question?
Would seem to be the simple way out.

500 miles away.

I don't trust the vet due to the fact that the owner of the dog already lied to my face (he said this was the first time his dog ever did this...which proved false VIA another neighbor), and also he is a local celebrity/personality that could possibly do him a favor. I was hoping that there was something higher up like a health department that would have a rabies vaccination record on the animal based on...well I guess at this point false hope. No signature on the "document" is suspicious to me, but I am not a lawyer.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Motorgirl

In MA, rabies vaccinations are recorded with the state by your vet and your dog or cat is issued a paper certificate and a metal rabies tag. If I were bitten the dog or cat owner (or the vaccinating vet) would have to furnish my local board of health with the dog or cat's current rabies tag number and the vet would have to verify that the tag number belonged to that particular animal and was the current number (they get a new number every time they get vaccinated).

I would not accept a spreadsheet, nor would the board of health.

That's awesome. Someone finally agrees with me.

That's exactly the verbage I was looking for Motorgirl.

So perhaps if I call the MI Department of health I could get this info?

Does anyone know if this information is available to the public, or does the owner of the animal have to consent to the release of this information? I highly doubt that the owner would cooperate at this point. I am hoping that I can just make a call and get copies mailed to me or faxed.

[brainstall]

If Animal Control is involved and has verified with the vet that the dog has been vaccinated, I don't think there is a lot more that you can do. You could always call the vet and ask them if they will give you a signed copy of the vaccination certificate or ask if it has been provided to Animal Control.

Do you really think your child has been exposed to rabies or are you just mad because you don't think enough is being done to punish your celebrity neighbour?

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by brainstall

If Animal Control is involved and has verified with the vet that the dog has been vaccinated, I don't think there is a lot more that you can do. You could always call the vet and ask them if they will give you a signed copy of the vaccination certificate or ask if it has been provided to Animal Control.

Do you really think your child has been exposed to rabies or are you just mad because you don't think enough is being done to punish your celebrity neighbour?

Well I would be lying if I said I wasn't mad. However, I have reason to be angry. The owner lied to me that his dog had never done something like this before. He didn't provide an official document to PROVE that his dog was up to date at the time of the bite. For all I know his dog could have been exposed to virus and it is incubating in her spine. Of course I am not an epidmeologist(sp) but I don't think its too much to ask to get verifiable proof that the dog was vaccinated/protected by the vaccine (including whatever overlap exists with the rabies vaccine).

I dont think its right that my wife and I have to sweat it out like this. Since he has already demonstrated his dishonesty right to my face I feel strongly that I need verification from a higher authority.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

500 miles away.

I don't trust the vet due to the fact that the owner of the dog already lied to my face (he said this was the first time his dog ever did this...which proved false VIA another neighbor), and also he is a local celebrity/personality that could possibly do him a favor. I was hoping that there was something higher up like a health department that would have a rabies vaccination record on the animal based on...well I guess at this point false hope. No signature on the "document" is suspicious to me, but I am not a lawyer.

There is this marvelous invention called a telephone, perhaps you have heard of it?
By punching the correct 11 numbers you can talk to the vet's office.
Also if the vet is 500 miles away I'm wondering about your use of the term local celebrity. Five hundred miles is not local where I live.

[JKilez]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

So perhaps if I call the MI Department of health I could get this info?

But you cannot really trust them either, can you. They could lie to you or forge the documentation. After all, the owner is a local celebrity/personality and they could just do him a favor.

You really need to contact the Feds (before he does!)

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by Rick

By punching the correct 11 numbers you can talk to the vet's office.

My vet will only release that info with either the owner's signed consent or the appropriate order form the dept of health.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Rick

There is this marvelous invention called a telephone, perhaps you have heard of it?
By punching the correct 11 numbers you can talk to the vet's office.
Also if the vet is 500 miles away I'm wondering about your use of the term local celebrity. Five hundred miles is not local where I live.

I actually did call the vet in question and they would not release the records to me because the owner of the dog that bit my kid did not give consent.


And when I said he is a local celebrity/personality I meant to the area he resides in that I mentioned is 500 miles away. I am surprised that you need that explained to you.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by JKilez

But you cannot really trust them either, can you. They could lie to you or forge the documentation. After all, the owner is a local celebrity/personality and they could just do him a favor.

You really need to contact the Feds (before he does!)

I would trust the authenticity of the health department much more than some po-dunk small town vet.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by kayaker

My vet will only release that info with either the owner's signed consent or the appropriate order form the dept of health.

Thankyou. This is correct as I found this out myself. I hope the case isn't the same for the Departmentof Health for MI, or the county where the dog lives.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

Thankyou. This is correct as I found this out myself. I hope the case isn't the same for the Departmentof Health for MI, or the county where the dog lives.

IME, the health dept accepts no shit when communicable deadly disease is a possibility. They will order compliance and will, if the victim demands, have the animal tested if not currrent. Testing involves euthanasia and testing of brain tissue, and results are ready in under 24 hours (again, my experience speaks for PA).

[Hello Again]

When I had my cat vaccinated for rabies in Michigan I definitely received a rabies certification, and I can't remember if it was written on the form, or if the vet told me, but it was clear that if my animal ever bit a human, that cert was the only thing standing between it and immediate seizure/destruction.

I am not sure of the Dept of Health will tell you if the dog is vaccinated directly, but they have the power to inquire. The will certainly take an interest in a reported dog bite. As you can see from their animal bite protocol, a domestic animal that has bitten a person must be confined for 10 days, even if showing no sign of illness.

Michigan Dept of health Animal Bite Rabies Protocol

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Hello Again

When I had my cat vaccinated for rabies in Michigan I definitely received a rabies certification, and I can't remember if it was written on the form, or if the vet told me, but it was clear that if my animal ever bit a human, that cert was the only thing standing between it and immediate seizure/destruction.

I am not sure of the Dept of Health will tell you if the dog is vaccinated directly, but they have the power to inquire. The will certainly take an interest in a reported dog bite. As you can see from their animal bite protocol, a domestic animal that has bitten a person must be confined for 10 days, even if showing no sign of illness.

Michigan Dept of health Animal Bite Rabies Protocol

Wow. Maybe that's why the owner has been so evasive. Perhaps the vaccination is not current and he fears that his dog will be destroyed. Here it is a week today and the dog has not been picked up yet. I just don't get the feet dragging on this issue. I know that his vet office is aware that my son was bit by his dog. I would think that his vet would have recognized the seriousness of this situation and provided a signed copy of the record with a number or some other official acoutrement...

[ManiacMan]

Can anyone theorized why the animal control officer has not picked up the dog yet after one week?

I would think that since I reported it Monday the 30th it should have been seen and taken in to confinement no later than the following day. I mean it was a bite that broke skin...seems serious enough to me...

[KarlGrenze]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

Can anyone theorized why the animal control officer has not picked up the dog yet after one week?

I would think that since I reported it Monday the 30th it should have been seen and taken in to confinement no later than the following day. I mean it was a bite that broke skin...seems serious enough to me...

IF the animal is current in rabies, there is no need to do a severe quarantine. If a vaccinated dog (or cat) bites a human, especially if it is not showing any other signs associated with rabies (neurological signs, that is), then it doesn't have to be destroyed. It has to be quarantined (which your owner may be doing in his own house) for 10 days, and if at the end of that period, there is no progression, no signs of rabies, the animal is in the clear. No need to kill the animal. That is the SOP in most places, that is the SOP taught in vet schools when they cover rabies public health.

IF the appropriate public health authorities in the area know about your case (animal control, your local public health MD or DVM), they probably already checked with the animal's veterinarian for the records. And the veterinarian likely released those to them and demonstrated that the dog was current in his rabies vaccine.

Lastly, in many counties/parishes, it is mandatory to be rabies-vaccinated (they give a certificate). And even in places where it is not mandatory, rabies vaccine, unlike others, comes with its own tag and its own receipt and unique number. I have official receipts stating my dog got her rabies from lot so-and-so, on the date such-and-such, next dose in so-and-so day, and tag number xyz123. Administration and documentation of that vaccine is very thorough.

[Hello Again]

Originally Posted by KarlGrenze

IF the animal is current in rabies, there is no need to do a severe quarantine. If a vaccinated dog (or cat) bites a human, especially if it is not showing any other signs associated with rabies (neurological signs, that is), then it doesn't have to be destroyed. It has to be quarantined (which your owner may be doing in his own house) for 10 days, and if at the end of that period, there is no progression, no signs of rabies, the animal is in the clear. No need to kill the animal. That is the SOP in most places, that is the SOP taught in vet schools when they cover rabies public health.

IF the appropriate public health authorities in the area know about your case (animal control, your local public health MD or DVM), they probably already checked with the animal's veterinarian for the records. And the veterinarian likely released those to them and demonstrated that the dog was current in his rabies vaccine.

Lastly, in many counties/parishes, it is mandatory to be rabies-vaccinated (they give a certificate). And even in places where it is not mandatory, rabies vaccine, unlike others, comes with its own tag and its own receipt and unique number. I have official receipts stating my dog got her rabies from lot so-and-so, on the date such-and-such, next dose in so-and-so day, and tag number xyz123. Administration and documentation of that vaccine is very thorough.

It seems to me the Michigan protocol states a dog that has bitten a human gets 10 days confinement regardless of vaccination status. The dog bite protocol is the second document in that link.

[KarlGrenze]

Originally Posted by Hello Again

It seems to me the Michigan protocol states a dog that has bitten a human gets 10 days confinement regardless of vaccination status. The dog bite protocol is the second document in that link.

Correct, and thank you. Again, in that case, that's probably the reason why nobody has picked up the dog (assuming the owner is keeping with the terms of the confinement). I know that some jurisdictions may push more towards the "euthanize and test", particularly if the animal is unvaccinated (or has neurological signs).

[ManiacMan]

The sad thing is that I just got off the phone with my brother who for those who may have missed it is neighbor to the owner of the dog that bit my kid. He said the dog was in his driveway wagging her tail.

So on one hand its good that the dog appears healthy, but bad because the dog is not under confinement by its owner...

[brainstall]

Have the authorities involved with this confirmed vaccination status to you? What has animal control told you about what is being done with the dog? Is the dog required to be quarantined? What are the applicable leash laws in the area where the dog lives? Has your brother called AC to report the dog at large?

It's a dog bite. Your kid will get over it if you stop making a huge deal about it.

[bobot]

Manicman, I was bitten by a dog last year, and as in your case, the skin was broken, but the bite was not severe.
After a few days, I saw a doctor- just in case. Not to scare you, but to inform you, he took this very seriously. He told me that the human mortality rate for rabies was 100%. Period.
I did not want to get my friends and their dog in hot water, and with regards to quarrantine, he was satisfied that I could access this dog at any time, should it become necessary.
His advise was that if the dog was rabid at the time of the bite, the dog would show the signs during the quarrantine period.
And the signs would show later than that in the person bitten.
His other point, again, not to scare you, was that by the time a human showed signs, it is too late.
Keep tabs on that dog, for 10 days.
Best wishes.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by brainstall

Have the authorities involved with this confirmed vaccination status to you? What has animal control told you about what is being done with the dog? Is the dog required to be quarantined? What are the applicable leash laws in the area where the dog lives? Has your brother called AC to report the dog at large?

It's a dog bite. Your kid will get over it if you stop making a huge deal about it.

I think your missing my point. I don't trust some computer generated document from an individual who has proven to be dishonest. As a precaution what I seek is confirmation from a higher authority that the dog was vaccinated sometime one the past 3 years prior to my kid being bitten.

What I have learned is that this doesn't really exist. The health department doesn't keep track of rabies vaccinations. Buy what they did tell me was to have my brother keep an eye on the dog for 10 days. If she shows signs of rabies then we act. If not my son is going to be ok. It's pretty much standard procedure. Rather than grabbing every dog that nips a kid and placing a burden on resourcesthey have the dog observed by the owner for signs that the dog is falling ill.

So there appears to be wiggle room when the bite just breaks the skin.

The AC did say the owner was to issued a citation...

And my kid is fine already. But as a parent I can't afford to let the possibility of my child getting rabies exist. As a parent I tend to go overboard in cases like this and especially when someone lies to me, drags his feet, is rude, and doesn't provide a rock solid document that proves his dog was vaccinated.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by bobot

Manicman, I was bitten by a dog last year, and as in your case, the skin was broken, but the bite was not severe.
After a few days, I saw a doctor- just in case. Not to scare you, but to inform you, he took this very seriously. He told me that the human mortality rate for rabies was 100%. Period.
I did not want to get my friends and their dog in hot water, and with regards to quarrantine, he was satisfied that I could access this dog at any time, should it become necessary.
His advise was that if the dog was rabid at the time of the bite, the dog would show the signs during the quarrantine period.
And the signs would show later than that in the person bitten.
His other point, again, not to scare you, was that by the time a human showed signs, it is too late.
Keep tabs on that dog, for 10 days.
Best wishes.

Yep thank you. The health department basically said the same thing. The animal control officer didnt really explain this to me very well. Add in the pet owner being a dishonest prickly and i was getting very frustrated. However, since talking with the health department yesterday afternoon my wife and I can finally rest easy. It just took a week of sweating and i don't feel that any parent should have to go through that.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by brainstall

It's a dog bite. Your kid will get over it if you stop making a huge deal about it.

Unless the kid dies. You don't get over that.

[Morgenstern]

Unless your son was bit by a skunk or a bat, it appears he's not in any danger.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/em...p_372581_7.pdf

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by Morgenstern

Unless your son was bit by a skunk or a bat, it appears he's not in any danger.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/em...p_372581_7.pdf

Those are stats for 2012 so far. Rabies has happened in cats in Michigan.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Morgenstern

Unless your son was bit by a skunk or a bat, it appears he's not in any danger.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/em...p_372581_7.pdf

It definitely looks to be the case, but I wouldn't be worthy of the term "father" if I went by appearances.

[Baracus]

Originally Posted by Morgenstern

Unless your son was bit by a skunk or a bat, it appears he's not in any danger.

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/em...p_372581_7.pdf

Unless the dog was bitten by a bat or skunk.

[ManiacMan]

Can an animal contract rabies if it eats an infected critter?

I recall some episode on Discovery channel where this guy's snake attacked and almost killed him. It was some kind of python. He was being interviewed and said that when he was being treated for the snake bites that they gave him rabies shots...and it was explained to him that they had to vaccinate him since the animals he was feeding Rosco might have been infected with rabies (rodents and such).

[Acid Lamp]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

And my kid is fine already. But as a parent I can't afford to let the possibility of my child getting rabies exist. As a parent I tend to go overboard in cases like this and especially when someone lies to me, drags his feet, is rude, and doesn't provide a rock solid document that proves his dog was vaccinated.

Then take your child for a series of rabies shots and be done with it.

Other than the fact the dog bit your child, it doesn't seem you have any reason to suspect that the dog is ill in any manner. All animals with a mouth will bite. It happens, it was an accident. It may be possible that the animal isn't up to date, or that the owner lost the tag and the county can't find the record etc... NONE of that means that the dog was rabid and your child is going to die. Sheesh.

[Acid Lamp]

Originally Posted by ManiacMan

Can an animal contract rabies if it eats an infected critter?

I recall some episode on Discovery channel where this guy's snake attacked and almost killed him. It was some kind of python. He was being interviewed and said that when he was being treated for the snake bites that they gave him rabies shots...and it was explained to him that they had to vaccinate him since the animals he was feeding Rosco might have been infected with rabies (rodents and such).

Reptiles do not carry rabies, that was an overkill; and senseless precaution by the doctors or EMTs.

[KarlGrenze]

Depending on the country, and how recently the snake was fed, the fear would be more that the rodents were shedding the virus and somehow some of that lingered in the snake prior to bite the person. Very tenous connection. I'd be more concern with the fact he was handling the (potentially rabid) rodents more than the snake ate them and then bit him. But I don't remember discussing a case like that on the public health lectures, and I doubt it happened in the US now or recently (there was a vaccine shortage a while back, they became very careful with whom they were giving the vaccines).

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by Acid Lamp

Then take your child for a series of rabies shots and be done with it.

Other than the fact the dog bit your child, it doesn't seem you have any reason to suspect that the dog is ill in any manner. All animals with a mouth will bite. It happens, it was an accident. It may be possible that the animal isn't up to date, or that the owner lost the tag and the county can't find the record etc... NONE of that means that the dog was rabid and your child is going to die. Sheesh.

I am using this 10 day period to do all that I can to prevent the need to put my kid through those shots. Recall via reading comprehension that he is very young. This past week I spent trying to find the best definitive proof that his mongrel was up to date.

And this animal has (according to my brother, and a different neighbor) a history of fighting with other dogs...and snapping at other kids. So it may have been an "accident" but the Fucking owner is negligent.

[KarlGrenze]

Human-aggressive behavior and problems would have more importance than rabies status in many, if not most jurisdictions. The problem there won't be solved by a current vaccination status, and that would be more an animal control (or police) report instead of a public health issue (as it would be more with rabies).

Also, the fact that he gave you an excel spreadsheet with the vaccination info is more than what would be expected, as the owner has no obligation to show anything like that to you. That would be something the owner (or the dog's veterinarian) would have to deal with the appropriate authorities, not you. In the particular county, it seems the animal control office is unconcerned enough to use the "wait 10 days and if nothing happens, dog is in the clear" approach, although that doesn't do anything with the aggressive behavior (which should be reported if it hasn't already). If they're treating it that way, so should you.

Again, vaccination status doesn't matter much if the dog has bitten a human (mostly only clinical signs matter), and in some jurisdictions with very low sylvatic rabies, they may not be at all concerned about that possibility.

[ManiacMan]

Originally Posted by KarlGrenze

Human-aggressive behavior and problems would have more importance than rabies status in many, if not most jurisdictions. The problem there won't be solved by a current vaccination status, and that would be more an animal control (or police) report instead of a public health issue (as it would be more with rabies).

Also, the fact that he gave you an excel spreadsheet with the vaccination info is more than what would be expected, as the owner has no obligation to show anything like that to you. That would be something the owner (or the dog's veterinarian) would have to deal with the appropriate authorities, not you. In the particular county, it seems the animal control office is unconcerned enough to use the "wait 10 days and if nothing happens, dog is in the clear" approach, although that doesn't do anything with the aggressive behavior (which should be reported if it hasn't already). If they're treating it that way, so should you.

Again, vaccination status doesn't matter much if the dog has bitten a human (mostly only clinical signs matter), and in some jurisdictions with very low sylvatic rabies, they may not be at all concerned about that possibility.

I gotcha. I pretty much said as much earlier. I have reasons why I asked my question in the first post. But with what I learned from the kind people on these boards, and from the very helpful health department person my fears/concerns have been diminished greatly. Had the owner not been such a prickly and had the animal control officer explained things...more...I wouldnt have to bother like this. But it was at least educational and I thank all who offered such excellent advise. This might happen one day to someone who has read this thread, or someone who hasn't yet and the info will be helpful nonetheless.

Peace out.

[KarlGrenze]

I'm more concerned now for the aggression, though. Your child will be fine, but later kids may have more problems. I do hope the appropriate people in the area take some note (or record, or something).

[Senegoid]

Yeah, I'm getting that the public health and animal control authorities just don't seem very concerned about this case, apparently because there's basically no danger of rabies here and they know it, but possibly because they are just bureaucratic jerk-offs giving you the run-around or because Mr. Celebrity has some pull. So your related complaint here is that some of those authorities just blew you off instead of helpfully explaining to you their positions on the risk, the vaccination status, the dogtags, the certificate, and everything -- and in the process left you twisting slowly in the wind.

Maybe you want to pursue lobbying those authorities, or their higher-ups, to be more sensitive to the concerns of worried parents, and be willing to take more time to explain the things that everybody on this thread has been explaining. After all, they supposedly know their stuff. Everybody on this thread is just offering their best speculations, mostly.

[kayaker]

Originally Posted by Senegoid

Maybe you want to pursue lobbying those authorities, or their higher-ups, to be more sensitive to the concerns of worried parents,

If your local department of health did not perform properly, the state department of health is where I would direct my complaint.

[Yarster]

How interesting. A few years back, here in San Diego, CA, I was walking my corgi by a neighborhood home where the head of security at a local Government office lived. This guy had a German Shepard guard dog which included one of those signs that said something like "My dog can reach the other side of this fence in two seconds. Can you run that fast? BEWARE OF DOG!". Meanwhile, he left his side gate open and his dog got out. His dog proceeded to grab my dog and try to kill her. I started punching his dog, which then turned it's attention to me and bit me numerous times on both hands, puncturing the skin quite a bit.

In his case, he also lied and said this was the 'first time it happened' though a neighbor told me the dog had attacked his Australian Shepard as well on a previous occasion. I think the lie is all about you not having his dog put down and/or suing him via his homeowner's insurance. In my case, he paid me for all my vet bills, my lost time at work, and everything else to the tune of several thousand dollars. He provided the dated vaccine records showing his dog was vaccinated for rabies, but the dog was quarantined anyway. Thankfully, he's since moved and I have no idea what happened to his dog.

I now have a new dog and for many years, we had no one in the neighborhood with a vicious dog. Now I see a guy with a pit bull who visibly changes his posture when he sees someone with another dog coming because his dog yanks the crap out of the leash trying to attack other dogs. To this I wonder how long it will be before the leash gets away from him and someone or some dog gets mauled. Personally, I don't understand these people who otherwise have shitty dogs like this, or why they don't at least put shock collars on them to control them if they didn't realize the dog was this way when they first got the dog.

[ManiacMan]

Well...I was able to procure a rabies certificate that contradicts the crappy email document that the owner of the dog provided. Basically, he passed off a document that showed dates for vaccinations that were DUE. I called the vet office and they verified that those dates were due dates. This misled my wife and I into thinking that the dog was already vaccinated earlier this year. I now have a document in my possession with the signature of the dog's doctor showing that the dog was vaccinated for rabies just 3 days after my son was bitten.

So now I don't know what to do, or even if I have any options at all. I cannot believe what a POST this person is to pull something like this. He really did a number on us and I am extremely pissed.