A bite happened. Start here.

Prevent further contact without putting anyone else at risk. For deep wounds, CDC advises pressure with a clean, dry cloth and immediate medical attention. Call 911 or local emergency medical services for bleeding that will not stop, faintness or weakness. Do not delay care to photograph an incident. (CDC: dogs and bite care)

CDC recommends reporting bites to local animal control or police and collecting rabies-vaccination, veterinarian and owner contact information. Ask the local authority what reporting, observation or quarantine duties apply to this incident. (CDC: dogs and bite care)

K1K9 recommendation: give accurate, immediate safety information: location, injuries, where the K9 is and whether it is secured. Do not guess, invent a self-defense account, claim service-dog status falsely, or coach another person's statement. Follow lawful safety directions and obtain jurisdiction-specific legal advice.

The ACLU advises staying calm, not resisting or obstructing, and not lying or giving false documents. It explains that identification duties can vary by state and that a person detained or arrested can expressly invoke silence and request counsel. Those principles do not erase applicable identification, animal-health or reporting duties. (ACLU: stopped by police)

K1K9 recommendation: contact your insurer promptly through its official claim channel and notify licensed counsel, especially if deployment, serious injury or seizure is alleged. Report accurately, keep the claim and incident numbers, and check policy and notice deadlines. Ask whether the insurer is assigning defense counsel and whether animal-control proceedings need separate representation.

K1K9 recommendation: retain original video, photographs, messages, training records, contracts, medical/veterinary records and official notices. Record firsthand observations without filling gaps. Do not delete unfavorable evidence, alter files or publish a speculative account. Do not obstruct lawful evidence collection.