At first, Cindy Thompson figured a small dog bite on her right elbow would heal, and that would mark the end of a bad experience on her Friday morning walk in southeast Salina.
Then came second thoughts about potentially serious ramifications.
The 71-year-old Salinan and her husband, Bryan, are now searching for the big, dark brown shaggy dog and its female owner, seeking confirmation that the canine was up to date on his vaccinations, specifically rabies.
Without it, she might be faced with being treated for the deadly viral disease.
Officials treated Cindy Thompson at Urgent Care along Ninth Street near Central Mall. They advised that finding the dog’s owner was paramount.
“I was given some antibiotics. They said, ‘If you don’t find the dog, there might be problems,’ ” she said. “They said we needed to know within three days.”
The Thompsons are looking for information that would lead them to the woman in her 50s, who was walking the dog Friday morning along Beatrice Street around 8:30am.
Cindy enjoys talking morning walks to watch the sunrise. She carries dog treats for her canine friends.
She was in the 800 block of Beatrice. It runs parallel with Ohio Street, between McAdams Road and Republic Avenue. Beatrice is west of Ohio.
“I was almost home, walking down the east side of Beatrice, walking south. The woman and her dog were across the street, walking north,” Cindy Thompson said. “I asked her if I could get her dog a treat. Then the dog started barking and growling. He dragged the woman across the street and he bit me. I was going to just toss the treat, but he came over too quickly.”
Thompson asked the woman if the dog was current on his shots. She said ‘yes’ and kept walking north on Beatrice.
“The wound was pretty superficial, which is why, at first, I wasn’t worried,” Thompson said. “When I got in the house, I thought ’Oh man, what if it’s rabies?’ I don’t want to have to take those shots.”
Bryan Thompson has posted a plea for information on Facebook. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Thompsons.
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