MARION, Ind. -- A Grant County woman was recovering Monday night after being bitten on the face by a shelter dog.
Tracy Hart says her trip to adopt a dog from the Marion-Grant County Humane Society ended with her in the hospital.
Hart says she was hoping to adopt a pit bull mix at the Marion-Grant County Humane Society. Instead, as soon as the dog entered the interaction area with her, she says it jumped up and bit her.
"When he entered the area that I was in he immediately jumped up and put his paw on my face and bit my nose," she said.
A handler quickly pulled the dog off her, but Hart says it's what happened next that really upset her.
She says for days she's struggled to get answers from the shelter about whether or not the dog was vaccinated for rabies.
RTV6 found Indiana law requires rabies vaccinations to be given by a licensed, accredited veterinarian in the state. Most shelters don't have a veterinarian on staff.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, shelters get a pass on administering rabies vaccinations because they aren't considered the owners of the dogs.
"I think that's totally wrong," Hart said. "Then that endangers any human being who goes in there to adopt a pet."
The dog that bit Hart is now in quarantine for five more days while she is left to wait for results showing the dog wasn't infected.
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