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With few leads to go on, the Carbondale Police Department is asking for any information regarding a dog that bit an SIUC student as he walked through Lewis Park Apartments Friday night.
The dog is described as a tan adult pit bull terrier, but Animal Control Officer Cindy Nelson said the description is relatively weak because it was dark and the dog "pretty much jumped out of nowhere."
Nelson said they must locate the dog to assess its health and make sure it has had a rabies vaccination. If they don't find the dog by Sunday the bite victim must undergo expensive rabies treatment as a precautionary measure.
"This is not about giving a violation," Nelson said. "We just need to know if the dog's healthy. From the time of the bite you have 10 days before you have to undergo a series of shots and it's costly. The treatment is about $2,000."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites each year. While only about a dozen bites each year are fatal, they are largely preventable.
If approached by an aggressive dog, the CDC recommends people to stay calm. Do not run away, scream or look the dog in the eye, as it may provoke an attack. It is best to stay still. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and protect the neck and face. Immediately report bites and unusual behavior to authorities and seek medical treatment.
To report information about the dog or its owner should contact Animal Control Officer Cindy Nelson at 457-3200, ext. 424.
Daily Egyptian 
