Animal Bites 'On The Rise' And Getting 'More Severe' In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — Dog and cat bites are "on the rise" and "getting more severe" in Minneapolis, according to local government officials.

The city's bite count — which primarily involves cats and dogs — is up nearly 30 percent since this time last year in Minneapolis.

There have been nearly 600 bites in 2024 so far. There were only 480 in all of 2023.

It's not clear what is the root cause of the spike. But Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Director Tony Schendel says many of these bites happen when Minneapolis residents don’t abide by the city’s leash ordinance.

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The city law requires owners to "properly restrain dogs at all times," and a first-time offense is a $75 fine. There is no leash law for cats in the city.

Schendel said animals without leashes are more likely to feel anxious or the need to protect their owners in public.

"Animals don’t have to display a long history of aggression to bite someone. It can happen very quickly and without much warning," Schendel said.

"Oftentimes animals react differently in an environment they aren’t familiar with, and we don’t want to place animals in a bad situation that could lead to an unfortunate outcome. My best advice is for people to keep their distance from animals they don’t know."

Schendel said that bites are getting more severe, affecting large areas of the face, arms, and hands.

Cat bites or scratches, while not considered as severe, could still lead to more infections, he noted. People are urged to call 911 for medical attention after any bite.

"We just want people to be aware that this is happening and take added precautions," Schendel said.