I got attacked tonight, I'm soooo shaken up!

ORIGINAL: Angelique

By targeting you directly and repeatedly biting you over and over again, I classify this as an attack.

This is a very dangerous dog, who you say also bit someone else. These dogs do exist, although they are rare. []

I totally agree. Also, there is absolutely NO reason to blame yourself Liejse. His biting was unprovoked and it's his issue, not yours.

By targeting you directly and repeatedly biting you over and over again, I classify this as an attack.

Even though he didn't break skin?

I'm not questioning that this is a dog whose fate should be seriously considered, or that it was very, very scary, or that he's unstable.... but a large dog that doesn't break skin is attacking?

I've had skin broken, multiple times, by small dogs. I've had nasty bruises inflicted by small dogs, even in play. I work in a kennel and volunteer at the shelter, so I handle a lot of untrained dogs, and it happens. I've watched small and tiny dogs chrush bones bigger than hand and small arm bones in a woman, with little effort. My 11 pound Dachshund consumes beef ribs. My 18 pound JRT consumes beef shanks, but that takes effort.  How are bites/attacks classified?

Liesje, I hope that you'll seek medical attention. Even though the skin doesn't appear to be broken (no bleeding), it can be lightly broken. Bites become infected VERY easily, and can become very serious. I have a coworker who is about to have surgery for a bite that a dog gave her during a seizure. There was a single mark, and she pulled back. It chipped the bone in her finger, and it's badly, badly infected. I'm not trying to scare you, but you do NEED to see a doctor.

OK, I'll see where the bruises are at in the morning.  They're still turning colors.

I absolutely cannot believe he didn't break any skin.  Right now, my upper arm feels like it has a bunch of bee stings on it.  Maybe it was because I was just letting him bite, I went limp and let him tug me around, that he didn't rip me open as he could have.  He'd bite so hard and then pull and pull, then he'd let go and I'd stay hunched with my arms up by my neck.  He went for my upper arms and shoulder the most, but also my thighs and feet, like whatever part I wasn't defending with my arms.  I keep thinking how I was hot and almost took off my jacket before taking him out.  If he'd had my bare arms, I'm sure I'd be ripped open good.  Perhaps he was trying to drag me down first?  Or was he just playing and using me as a tug toy? 

WOW, I am so impressed by your composure! There is absolutely no way that I would have held it together like you did. After the first bite, I would have freaked out & began yanking on the leash. Thus, very likely making the attack even worse. Great thinking on your part.
 
IMO, you did everything right. This dog does not need to be adopted out without it#%92s new family knowing exactly what they are getting into.
Great job handling yourself so well.
 
I do agree with Jennie. I would go see your doctor tomorrow as dog bites do get infected quickly.
 
 

I would go see your doctor tomorrow as dog bites do get infected quickly.

Can they get infected if there's no broken skin and it was through two layers of shirt?  The dr. is just sooooo friggin expensive, I don't go unless severe illness, pain, or death is imminent! [:@]

Yikes yikes yikes. I have no good advice to add, I'm just glad that you're (more or less) okay.

If it were me, I'd be calling the shelter first thing in the AM to report this to someone of authority - there is NO WAY this dog should be adopted out right now. What happens if he's scheduled to be picked up by the adoptive family tomorrow and the behaviorist doesn't get the note in time? Call and talk to the director or whoever is in charge and read off your email to the behaviorist if you have to, just *tell them*!!

I'm going into animal shelter behavior in a few months (after I graduate) and this is serious - the fact that you have deep bruising through a coat says that there may have been some bite inhibition, but not enough to make a dog with this type of behavior "safe" right now especially heading into a season where clothing is lighter.

I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this, but good on you for reacting well and not just brushing this event off as you doing something wrong - this dog has a problem and needs help. ((hugs))

Can they get infected if there's no broken skin and it was through two layers of shirt? The dr. is just sooooo friggin expensive, I don't go unless severe illness, pain, or death is imminent!

You should be covered by the shelter's insurance policy.

And, yes, I've been told that you can still get infected. I think it's related to the trauma. You may have a chipped bone in there, too. Those can get VERY nasty.

I'd also call the shelter first thing, and tell whoever is in charge what happened. Ask about their insurance, and about what you need to do.

Sorry to hear this happened, Leisje. I'm glad you responded with your wits, and it wasn't worse. I hope you'll go to the doctor, and that you're a-ok.

Oh wow I'm sorry to hear that you where attacked like that and at least you weren't seriously injured. Do contact the shelter and make sure they know what happen in case they haven't checked their email yet. I would hate for someone to adopt him out and he does this to the new family.

IMO, you did everything right. This dog does not need to be adopted out without it#%92s new family knowing exactly what they are getting into.
Great job handling yourself so well.

Ditto... I am also so impressed withyour handling and calmness in this situation. I am very glad that you were not seriously injured and PLEASE do not blame yourself for this incident. 

Call the shelter in the am first thing, due to their insurance they will insist you see a Dr.
Also you  need to have your tetanus updated if its been over 5 yrs.
 
Bless your heart so glad your ok, but as we can all understand very shaken up. Hats off to you for staying calm.

Im glad your alright! What if he had done this to a child, I do not think this dog should be adopted out. This was an attack. Please call them again in the morning and let them know everything that happened. Im so sorry.

Liesje, I am so sorry that this happened to you.   I sincerely hope that your injuries do prove to just be bruises.  Get some rest!!  Don't be surprised if you have a bit of PTS over this incident.
 
I am sure that Darci is right and that the shelter will insist that you see a doctor.  They have to document the injuries because some people (not you, of course) would come back later with false claims.
 
You handled this incident well and you have absolutely nothing to feel bad about.  Even if something you did or said triggered the attack, you had no way to know what would happen.  Something medicial or something in the dog's past is to blame.
 
Do not worry about the dog's adoption status.  You simply identified (the hard way) a dog that should probably not ever be adopted.  The liability to the shelter is just too great.  It is a matter of resources - one dog vs many dogs. 
 
As much as we regret it, not all dogs are adoptable!!  Your injuries may well have saved a child from disfigurement or death.  Please remember than any time you are tempted to feel bad about reporting the attack.
 
Please do call the shelter ASAP in the morning.  There should be a "Do not adopt.  AC handlers only!" sign on the dog's kennel immediately.  Be insistant even if the "right" people are not there yet.  If you have to, verbally bully someone into changing the sign. 
 
There should also be a lock on the kennel door, so only authorized people have access until the dog can be transferred to quarantine.  Your bites are serious enough that the shelter will have to assume the dog is ill just to be on the safe side.
 
Be gentle with yourself and get a lot of rest.  You are shaken and wired tonight, but tomorrow you will probably be exhausted.

GO to the doctor.  The shelter insurance should cover it.

As for the dog, he should not be adopted out PERIOD. This dog is a giant accident waiting to happen.

My first reaction to this was anger. Why the heck didn't the other lady report her bite? The last dog who bit me was a shelter dog and she bit out of fear (she let go as soon asn she clamped down, so I didn't have to make her let go).  I told the AC about it, we worked with her but ultimately decided that she could NOT be adopted out.  I was sad to see her go, but not every animal is salvageable. OTOH, we had a Rott mix who hated EVERYONE.  he was put down after the required hold time--no arguments from anyone with this ticking time bomb.Nobody was sad to see him go.