Police want to chat with a Port Dover dog owner after a 15-year-old teen was bitten while on Main Street last week.

The teen was walking along the sidewalk at about 8 p.m. on May 9 when he was bitten by what was described as a white poodle. The woman walking the dog stopped to see if the victim was fine. She then left the area.

Norfolk OPP say the teen had in fact suffered a serious injury and was treated at hospital.

The teen’s parent contacted police about the incident on Sunday morning.

The owner of the dog is about 40 years of age. She had been walking with another woman that also had a small white dog.

If anyone has information that can identify the owner, they are being asked to contact the Norfolk County OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

The incident is a reminder that all pets should be vaccinated against rabies, to protect both animals and humans.

The Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit is urging residents to vaccinate their pets as part of Rabies Awareness Month.

“Rabies is real, don’t let it come between you and your loved ones,” Kwesi Douglas, manager of environmental health at the HNHU said in a release on Tuesday. “Having your pets vaccinated against rabies protects them and helps to prevent the spread of rabies from animals to humans. We keep our pets close, so let’s keep them safe.”

The Simcoe and District Humane Society will be hosting low-cost dog and cat rabies vaccination clinics in the coming weeks.

The cost is $25 for the rabies vaccine and $25 for a microchip. The first takes place June 23 at the Simcoe Curling Club from 12-5 p.m. The second also runs from 12-5 p.m. and will be held at the Courtland Community Centre Sept. 29.

Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal by a bite or scratch and is fatal if left untreated. Any mammal can be infected, with raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes being the most common regional carriers. Pets such as dogs and cats should be vaccinated at the age of three months.

Any bite or scratch from a domestic animal, raccoon, bat or other wild animal is considered rabies exposure.

If this happens, immediately wash the wound with soapy water for at least 15 minutes, seek medical attention and report the incident to the HNHU at 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623 during business hours, or 1-877-298-5888 after 4:30 p.m Monday-Friday, on weekends or holidays.

Anyone in Haldimand and Norfolk wanting to report wildlife exhibiting abnormal behaviour should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Rabies Information Line at 1-888-574-6656 or their local animal control.

For more information about rabies, visit hnhu.org.