Dog Community

How would you handle a dog bite?

Posted : 4/25/2007 11:55:02 AM

From a strange dog that is. I ask cuz I thought I was gonna be in that situation today. I walk Sampson for roughly 3miles (45min) and wanted to start walking longer so extended our route so to speak. We were walking down the street and hear a dog bark at us so looked up to see two dogs inside a garage that is open.
There is also a man in the front yard so no worries. Then the dogs start running toward us and I quickly glance at the man to see if he is going to call his dogs.
No....so I kinda stop as the dogs approached us and Sampson is on a leash and we are in the middle of the street cuz there are no sidewalks. All the dogs are just kinda surrounding me then one of the dogs makes a very quick movement toward my dog and all I could think to do was yell eh-eh very firmly and continue walking.
It worked...the dogs just kinda started walking with us cautiously then went back into their yard. I sort of angrily asked the man if those were his dogs but they werent. He was just working on a trench or something for the owners.
So after all that I wondered what I would have done if I had been bit. At that time I didnt want to walk up to the house cuz the dogs didnt really do anything nor did I trust the dogs if I were to go into their yard. I never seen the owners come out but all this was like a total of 4minutes. If you get bit is the fault of the owner? I can only assume so as I was not on their property. Do they pay for medical bills if I needed medical attention? I wouldnt want to fly off the handle but im pretty sure I would anyway. Do you knock at the door and say....sorry to bother you but your dog just bit me?

Sorry this sort of turned into a vent, but just curious as how to handle such a thing.

Liesje

Posted : 4/25/2007 12:06:32 PM

If you get bit, call Animal Control and/or the police. You should always file a report, even if it wasn't a bad bite. If the dogs had bitten 10 different people and no one filed a report, they'd never know that there's a pack of dogs routinely biting people. If the bite broke the skin, then you should have gone to a Dr. or ER to have it cleaned out really good, possibly get a tetanus shot and make sure the bite is documented because then the dog would have to be checked for rabies.

It depends on the state/county/city, but at least where I live, cats AND dogs are subject to leash laws, meaning they have to be contained on someone's property or on a 6 ft. or shorter lead at all times. If this is true where you life, the bite would not have been your fault. If it were me, I would've told the owner the dog had bit (unless it was still attacking and I had to run away), and then called the authorities. I would not deal with it with the owner, just let them know what had happened and that you would be reporting the incident.

If I were you, I might still report it, mainly because you said it was a pack of dogs. That's pretty dangerous to have more than one dog going around together and defending their property, scaring people off. If you'd been a kid without your own dog, they may have attacked you.

Harleygirl

Posted : 4/25/2007 12:13:33 PM

I would definately go knock on the door and tell them their dog bit me, and I would hold them responsible since they don't think it's necessary to control their dogs. It would be their fault that they had their dogs loose. People like this just irritate me. They should also be held responsible if Sampson got bit. There's a reason why there are laws against loose dogs. I don't know the exact law, but I would think they would be held responsible financially if there was an incident.

I've seen a lot of dogs in their front yards lately. No one around watching them. Whenever I see one in the distance Harley and I turn around. I don't want anything happening.

tzumommy

Posted : 4/25/2007 12:29:41 PM

I've never been bitten by a dog when not on their property, but if I knew who the owners were or where they lived, I most certainly would at a minimum confront them. It is extremely irresponsible of them not to supervise their dogs. I have a similar problem with one of our neighbors. He is very inattentive to his dogs; he lets them out of their kennel and proceeds to work on his truck or wash his boat while all 3 Filas eventually wander off and terrorize the neighborhood [:@]. We've had a couple of "conversations" about this in the past and he has gotten somewhat better, but one of them wandered off again just this past Sunday. Therefore, I do not feel safe walking my dogs in my own neighborhood![:@] I sure hope I don't get bitten by one of his dogs; I have a feeling I wouldn't be "walking" anywhere after a Fila bite.[

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In my county, there is a BITE FORM that is required to be filed by medical personnel when a bite patient comes in. You would need to contact their owner if you knew where to find them so that you could find out if the dog(s) were UTD on their shots.

Anyway, my initial thought when reading your post was "WAY TO GO|!". You tucked away your fear and put your knowledge of dog behavior to work. The way you described how they ran up to you, but fell into the walk after your confident tone and walk, you obviously demontrated some leadership to both the approaching dogs and your own. [sm=wink2.gif]
(I probably would have panicked and they would have heard it in my voice and saw it in my flailing arms!)

Amitiel

Posted : 4/25/2007 12:47:59 PM

if the dogs were loose & the man on the property was merely a worker - then he may have had the garage open & those dogs may not even belong there

call animal control - tell them the incident & address - these are now "dangerous" and need to be impounded oe at the very least the owners, if can be found, need to have a large fine & jail time for endangerment

jode88

Posted : 4/25/2007 1:15:12 PM

I was certainly scared at the time then got a little angry. The man did tell me the dogs belonged to the owners of the house. I didn't want to walk up to the door and tell them their dogs were loose because I didnt trust the dogs. I didnt want to provoke them. Trust me, I wanted to give them my 2 cents.
Im pretty sure I won't walk that way tomorrow though. I better put the number to animal control in my cell phone just in case I ever need it.

janet_rose

Posted : 4/25/2007 1:19:09 PM

In my county, there is a BITE FORM that is required [emphasis added] to be filed by medical personnel when a bite patient comes in.

This is why with some bites I would be very hesitant to go to a doctor. If I got bit and it was my fault, I see no point in penalizing the dog.

If I were to put my hand in the middle of a dog fight by my own dogs, any bite would be my fault. If I were ignorant/stupid enough to stick my hand in front of the mouth of a snarling, fear aggressive, dog, then I am the one who should be locked up and evaluated for (mental) illness. [8D]

Amitiel

Posted : 4/25/2007 1:21:41 PM

ORIGINAL: jode88
I better put the number to animal control in my cell phone just in case I ever need it.

very good idea (think I will do the same)

also - do you know about ICE (in case of emergency)? it is for emergency service to have someone to call on your behalf if you are rendered unable to give vital information - that number listed as ICE should be in your cell too

tzumommy

Posted : 4/25/2007 1:52:41 PM

ORIGINAL: janet_rose

In my county, there is a BITE FORM that is required [emphasis added] to be filed by medical personnel when a bite patient comes in.

This is why with some bites I would be very hesitant to go to a doctor. If I got bit and it was my fault, I see no point in penalizing the dog.

I agree 100% - and the emphasis is correct; it is required by law. For that reason, I have been bitten without seeking medical attention. The long haired dachshund across the street has serious behavior and fear aggression issues. She bit my calf when I was trying to "just ignore her" as the owner instructed (and nope, I wasn't even LOOKING at her!). That little yapper left a puncture and a big 'ole bruise on my leg for weeks! I still don't hate her; her owners have never properly socialized that dog and now they "poke" at her neck after seeing Dog Whisperer episodes. [sm=uhoh.gif]