How Long Do You Have to Report a Dog Bite in PA?

After a dog bite, reporting it might not seem urgent, especially if the injury feels minor or you know the dog. But how long do you have to report a dog bite in Pennsylvania? The answer can affect your health, legal options, and chance of receiving compensation.

Here’s what you need to know about reporting timelines, legal requirements, and how state law protects you.

Jump to a Section

Why You Should Report a Dog Bite Within 48 Hours

If the injury looks minor or involves a familiar dog, you might hesitate to report a dog bite. But waiting can cost you. Without a report:

There’s no official record of the bite,
Animal control can’t verify vaccination status, and
You may lose critical evidence for a potential legal claim.

While there is no set deadline for reporting dog bites in PA, health officials recommend doing it within 24 to 48 hours. Why? Because that report sets everything in motion: confirming the dog’s rabies status, documenting your injury, and protecting your right to pursue legal action if things worsen.

People often hesitate to report a dog bite because they want to avoid conflict or think the injury is “no big deal.” But time only makes things more complicated. The sooner you report, the stronger your position legally and medically.

Still on the fence? Here’s what happens once you report a dog bite.

Reporting a Dog Bite: What’s the Process?

Animal control or your county health department handles a dog bite report. They record what happened and confirm the dog’s vaccination status.

The process usually includes:

Logging when, where, and how the bite occurred;
Notifying the dog’s owner;
Checking rabies vaccination records; and
Looking into any past incidents involving the same animal.

If the bite caused serious injury or the dog has a record of aggression, the agency may flag the dog as “dangerous” under state law. That can trigger extra requirements for the dog’s owner, including:

Registration in a statewide database,
A $50,000 liability insurance policy,
Warning signs on the property, and
A leash and muzzle in public.

The agency makes this determination based on the incident, so it is not automatically applied.

Reports like this protect others, confirm medical details, and help support any legal steps you may take later.

Next, if you’re thinking about legal action, there are deadlines to remember.

You Have Two Years to File a Lawsuit

In Pennsylvania, you have two years from the bite date to file a personal injury lawsuit against:

The dog’s owner,
A landlord who allowed a dangerous dog on the property, or
A business that failed to prevent a known risk.

After two years, your right to sue usually ends, no matter how serious the injuries.

If a Child is Involved

Bites involving children are handled a little differently under Pennsylvania law. The two-year lawsuit deadline doesn’t start until the child turns 18. That gives you until their 20th birthday to file a claim related to the injury.

Still, delays carry risks:

Records may be incomplete or harder to get,
Witnesses may no longer be available, and
It may become difficult to confirm the dog’s identity or vaccine history.

Even if you’re undecided, it helps to report the bite immediately and keep copies of any medical visits or follow-ups. Building a clear record makes future choices easier, whether that’s a legal claim or not.

Who’s Legally Responsible for a Dog Bite?

Pennsylvania uses two standards when assigning legal responsibility after a dog bite:

Strict liability. Applies to medical costs. If a dog bites someone, the owner is responsible for paying those bills, even if the dog has never acted aggressively.
Negligence-based liability. Applies when the dog has a known history of aggression or was not properly secured. In those cases, the victim may also recover money for pain, lost work, or lasting effects from the injury.

The law also considers where the bite occurred and whether a third party failed to address a known risk. Sometimes, landlords, property managers, or businesses may share legal responsibility in:

Multi-unit apartment buildings,
Homes with broken fences, or
Commercial properties where a dog was allowed to roam or threaten visitors.

In short, liability may extend beyond the dog’s owner. The law looks at who controlled the situation and whether they failed to prevent an avoidable injury.

What You May Be Able to Recover After a Dog Bite

A dog bite injury can affect more than one part of your life. The legal claim that follows isn’t just about first aid or stitches. It may include money for a range of past, present, and future losses, including:

Medical treatment and follow-up care;
Scarring or disfigurement;
Time away from work or reduced ability to work;
Psychological effects such as anxiety, phobias, or post-traumatic stress; and
Therapy, surgery, or long-term recovery needs.

A bite’s full physical and emotional impact often doesn’t show up immediately. That’s one reason it helps to document the injury early, follow your doctor’s treatment plan, and keep records of how it changes your daily life.

Talk to a Dog Bite Lawyer at Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers

If you suffered a dog bite in Pennsylvania, don’t wait to get help. How long do you have to report a dog bite? In some cases, it’s just days, and waiting could limit your legal rights.

While you have two years to file a claim, acting within the first few days can make a significant difference.

At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, we’ve secured millions for injury victims. With over 75 years of combined experience, we know how to build strong cases, starting with your first report.

Call now for your free consultation. Let’s report the bite, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve.