ONSLOW COUNTY, NC. – Howard Martin, the Onslow County Animal Services director, says animal bites are way up these first four months of the year, up 42 percent since last year.

Only 15 cases of animal bites were animal vs. animal

The rest of the 231 bites were against humans, according to the Onslow Co. Animal Services director

Most of those bites are from pets, not strays

Martin says they’ve had 231 bites reported, and only 15 of the cases were animal vs. animal, which means the rest were dogs biting humans.

“Some of those are of unique concern to me because I feel like I've had an increase in child bites. We care about adults, but we want to make sure we are really protecting our children,” said Angela Lee, the health director of Onslow County.

The health department is teaming up with animal services to educate the public about being better pet owners.

“There are three times a dog will bite: when its told to, when it defends itself, when it defends the person next to it handling it. Two of those times it has to be taught to do that.”

Martin says while some bites are from strays, most are pets that are not secured properly, by leash or fence, or properly trained and attended to.

Martin says even if a dog is labeled dangerous, animal control cannot seize any animal that continuously attacks without owner's permission.

“It can bite 20 times, and you'll be charged 20 times. I think there's some misconceptions that people take your dogs and euthanize them based on being aggressive. But no, we're just going to take them to jail if they continue to bite,” said Martin.

Martin says pets that bite are allowed one free pass before having to follow city ordinance that require leashes and muzzles in public.

He says if a dog bites or does the biting, pet owners must show a rabies vaccine record by law. Those dogs must be kept in isolation at either home or at the shelter.

The Onslow County Animal Services Shelter provides rabies vaccines for $10 per pet. They are on a walk–in basis Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays noon to 5 p.m. at 244 Georgetown Road in Jacksonville.

For more information call 910-455-0182.