How to Report a Dog Bite in Orange County

A dog bite in Orange County should be reported to the animal control agency for the city where it happened. The report starts a rabies quarantine and creates an official record of the dog and its owner. Here is who takes the report, what happens next and how the records fit into an injury claim.

On this page: Medical care · Who to report to · What to have ready · Quarantine · Getting the report · Dangerous dog proceedings · Your injury claim · FAQ

Updated November 2026. Agency phone numbers and procedures can change; confirm details with the agency.

First: Get Medical Care

Dog bites carry a high risk of infection, and deep wounds can damage nerves and tendons. See a doctor the same day, even if the wound looks small. Hospitals and doctors are required to report animal bites to public health, but do not assume the report was made. File your own.

Who to Report To

OC Animal Care is the county agency. It serves unincorporated Orange County and its contract cities: Anaheim, Brea, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.

• Online: the “Report an Animal Bite” page on the OC Animal Care website, which includes a bite reporting form.
• Phone: (714) 935-6848.
• Location: 1630 Victory Road, Tustin.

Not every city uses OC Animal Care. Several cities, including Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo, run their own animal services or contract with another city. If you are not sure which agency covers the address where you were bitten, call the city’s police non-emergency line or OC Animal Care and ask. If a dog is loose and attacking, call 911.

Information to Have Ready

• The date, time and exact location of the bite.
• The owner’s name, address and phone number, if you know them.
• A description of the dog: breed, color, size, collar or tags.
• Where the dog is now, and whether it was loose or leashed.
• Names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the attack.
• Where you were treated.

If you do not know who owns the dog, report it anyway and give the best description and location you can. Animal control may be able to identify the owner.

The 10-Day Quarantine

California requires a dog that bites a person to be quarantined and observed for at least 10 days, even if it is vaccinated against rabies. OC Animal Care decides where the quarantine takes place, at the owner’s home or at a shelter or veterinary facility, based on the circumstances. If the dog stays healthy for the full period, it could not have passed rabies through the bite. Ask the agency to tell you the outcome, and tell your doctor if the dog cannot be located.

How to Get a Copy of the Report

OC Animal Care bite reports are requested as public records through the OC Community Resources Custodian of Records, online through the county’s records request page or at (714) 480-2774. Give the date, location and names involved. Some personal information may be blacked out. If your city has its own animal services, send the request to that city instead. An attorney can also obtain these records, and the complete file can be subpoenaed once a lawsuit is filed.

Keep a copy of everything you submit, plus the report or case number and the name of the officer assigned.

Dangerous Dog Proceedings

California law (Food and Agricultural Code section 31601 and following) and local ordinances allow a dog to be declared potentially dangerous or vicious after bites or unprovoked attacks. OC Animal Care investigates potentially dangerous and vicious dog cases in the areas it serves, and cities with their own animal services handle theirs. The owner is entitled to a hearing, and the outcome can include restrictions such as secure confinement, leashing and muzzling, and insurance requirements. If the agency asks you for a statement or to testify, that record can matter later: a prior complaint or designation helps show what the owner, a landlord or others knew about the dog.

What the Report Means for Your Injury Claim

Reporting a bite does not start a legal claim, and animal control does not recover compensation for you. A claim for your injuries is separate. Under Civil Code section 3342, a dog’s owner is liable for a bite in a public place or while you were lawfully on private property, whether or not the dog had bitten before.

The agency’s records help prove that claim. They identify the dog and its owner, confirm the date and place, and may show earlier bites or complaints. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance usually pays, and in some cases a landlord or business is also responsible.

• Deadline: generally two years from the bite to file a lawsuit. If a public agency may be responsible, a written claim is generally due within six months.
• Insurance adjusters: do not give a recorded statement or sign a release before getting advice.
• Photos: photograph your injuries now and as they heal.

Smith Trial Group has recovered $750,000, $500,000, $359,000 and $200,000 for clients in past dog bite cases. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Our Newport Beach office line is (949) 438-7800. See also our Newport Beach personal injury page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does OC Animal Care cover my city?

It covers unincorporated areas and the cities that contract with the county. Some cities, including Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo, use their own or another city’s animal services. Check with your city or call OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848.

How do I get a copy of an OC Animal Care bite report?

Submit a public records request to the OC Community Resources Custodian of Records, online or at (714) 480-2774, with the date, location and names involved.

Will the dog be put down if I report the bite?

Rarely. In most cases the dog is quarantined, usually at home, and released when the observation period ends. Stricter measures are generally reserved for dogs with rabies or a history of serious, unprovoked attacks, and the owner has a right to a hearing.

Do I have to report a bite from a dog I know?

You should. Reporting protects your health by confirming the dog’s rabies status, and it creates an official record. Reporting does not mean you are suing the owner.

Does filing a report start my injury claim?

No. The report is a public health and animal control record. A claim for medical bills, lost income, scarring and pain is made separately, usually against the owner’s insurance.