WISCONSIN -- Two days after biting a 12-year-old girl as she rode her bicycle in Wisconsin Rapids, a St. Bernard remained at large Tuesday, authorities said.
Wisconsin Rapids Police Lt. Kevin Schwartz said the girl will have to get a series of anti-rabies shots if the seven-year-old dog isn't found by Wednesday.
Schwartz said the community was alerted with social media on Monday about a dangerous St. Bernard running loose, including a Facebook post with about 6,000 views, and no one has reported seeing the dog.
A woman owns the dog and has provided evidence that its rabies shots expired May 10, but she says she does not know where the dog is, Schwartz said.
"I don't think it is at the house. The humane officer has been there. There is no signs of the dog," Schwartz said.
Wood County Humane Officer Nanci Kinney said the dog, named Molly, needs to be quarantined for 10 days and tested by veterinarians to assure it does not have rabies.
The owner indicated the dog has run off and come back before and she said she saw the dog last week running around the neighborhood, Kinney said. Neighbors say the dog was tied up in the family's back yard last Thursday.
The girl who was bitten says she was riding her bicycle with friends on Sunday, the d
og's owner opened the door to her home, the dog ran out and "came straight to her bike and bit her," Kinney said.
Kinney described the bite as "a puncture wound but not bad."
Schwartz said the incident occurred in a residential neighborhood west of downtown Wisconsin Rapids.
People with information about the dog are asked to call Wisconsin Rapids Police at 715-423-4444.
(WAOW - June 11, 2013)
