Dog-bite victim to avoid rabies shots

Jean Wibbenmeyer of Cape Girardeau says she believes in the power of the press.

Within hours after reading about Wibbenmeyer's being bitten by a dog in Capaha Park, the owner of the dog, Mitchell Jackson, came forward with papers showing that the 16-month-old female dog had had her shots. Wibbenmeyer said Jackson even offered to pay for her medical treatment.

Had Jackson not come forward, Wibbenmeyer would have had to take a series of painful rabies shots. Left untreated, rabies is fatal. At her doctor's suggestion, Wibbenmeyer appealed to the community through the Southeast Missourian to ask if anyone recognized the dog or the children with her. Jackson's mother-in-law read the article, put two and two together, and called her son-in-law.

"Thank God it worked," she said. "I think it brought the best results."