53 million dogs are considered pets in the United States. Many of them are wonderful companions to their owners. Unfortunately, dogs can sometimes bite. Each year, about 4.5 million people are bitten by a dog. Around 800,000 require medical attention due to a dog bite every year.

Dog bites are a serious public health problem. They cause not only physical, but emotional damage to their victims, not to mention hidden costs to the community – insurance claims, medical bills, lost wages, etc.

All cities and counties designate someone to handle animal bite cases. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) is the appointed authority in Maricopa County. Some cities may choose to operate their own animal control agency, like Peoria, Mesa, and Buckeye. MCACC is responsible for investigating animal bites, ensuring proper management of biting animals, and enforcing state and local rabies laws. MCACC is called to investigate dog, cat, and bat bites. Most bites MCACC investigates are dog bites.