Community reminded to stay alert for animal bites 2-12-26
February 12, 2026
Community reminded to stay alert for animal bites
MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) is urging residents to stay alert and take precautions as animal bite incidents continue to occur in the community. MCHD’s Infectious Disease & Outbreaks team routinely investigates dog bites on a weekly basis.
Last week, the Infectious Disease & Outbreaks team investigated 12 animal bite cases, an increase from 6 cases reported the previous week.
“Mobile County has seen a growing number of animal bite reports in recent months, and these incidents can have lasting impact,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “Beyond the risk of infection, an animal bite can cause significant pain, emotional trauma, and even long-term anxiety about animals or outdoor activity. It’s important to take precautions to prevent bites and to seek immediate medical care if one occurs.”
Between January and December 2025, approximately 627 animal bite reports were documented in Mobile County, with more than two-thirds of patients receiving care in emergency rooms.
“We continue to see many residents turning to the ER for bite related care, even when urgent care or an outpatient clinic may be appropriate,” Dr. Michaels added. “Knowing where to go for care not only helps patients get timely treatment, it also helps preserve emergency resources for life threatening conditions.”
“Any animal can bite if startled, frightened, or provoked,” continued Dr. Michaels. “Taking preventive steps, properly socializing pets, and supervising children around animals are all vital ways to reduce the risk.”
MCHD encourages residents to report all animal bites or potential exposures to their healthcare provider and to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Prompt medical evaluation can help prevent infection and allows providers to determine whether rabies or tetanus vaccination is needed.
To protect your household and community, MCHD also reminds pet owners that Alabama law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older to have a current rabies vaccination. Vaccines are also available for horses and other livestock to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
MCHD sponsors low-cost rabies vaccination clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets on weekends. The schedule is available at https://mchd.org/events/ or at https://www.facebook.com/ILOVEMCHD/events.