Notice affixed to a stile on the Abthorpe to Slapton public footpath
Lamb death. “Due to lamb death following dog bite please keep dogs on a lead.†That was the printed message posted alongside a stile on the Abthorpe to Slapton public footpath. Barbara Smith of Slapton Manor Farm explained that a large well looked after lamb had been found dead in the field with a largish bite that she believed was too big for a fox. As people find it difficult to realise that the pet dogs that they love can cause expensive damage to a farmer’s stock, Barbara was asking for dogs to be kept on leads for the immediate future. The potential value of the lamb was between £65 and £85.
Once when I was a kid, I was riding my bike, and a neighbor’s dog ran out and bit me on the leg. I cried all the way home. I love dogs, but I also respect them.
Next week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Thanks to dog vaccinations  and other public health efforts, rabies is rare in the United States. But it’s still a serious concern. And dog bites can also cause infection and serious injury.
Here’s what you and you family can do to protect yourselves from dog bites:
  * Don’t approach an unfamiliar dog.
  * Don’t run from a dog or scream when you’re around a dog.
  * Be “still like a tree†if an unfamiliar dog approaches.
  * If a dog knocks you down, roll into a ball and lie “still like a log.â€Â
  * Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
  * Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
  * Before petting a dog, let it see and sniff you.
  * Report stray dogs or dogs acting strangely to your local animal control agency.
For more information, read Dog Bite Prevention on the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Your local TV station or newspaper may have run a scary story about MRSA (pronounced “mer-saâ€). This skin infection is hard to treat and can even be deadly. But you and your family can take a few simple steps to protect yourselves from MRSA.
About 9 out of 10 MRSA infections happen when a person is in a hospital. But others occur as people go about their daily lives. For example, a towel infected with MRSA touches a scrape on a person’s arm.
MRSA infections often occur where there is a cut or scrape. They may also appear on a part of the body that is covered by hair, such as the back of the neck. Crowded conditions can help spread MRSA. Examples: Day care centers, locker rooms.
MRSA can sometimes cause serious problems. Examples: Pneumonia, infections of the bloodstream.
What Can My Children and I Do to Reduce the Risk of MRSA? Wash your hands often with soap and water. Or use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean.
Cover cuts and scrapes with clean, dry bandages until they heal.
If you have a cut, always put dirty bandages in the trash. Wash your hands after handling dirty bandages.
Don’t touch the cuts or skin infections of other people. Also, don’t touch their bandages.
Don’t share personal items that come into contact with skin. Examples: Towels, razors.
When Should I Be Concerned About a Skin Infection? Most skin infections are minor and easily treated. The skin may be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or oozing. The infection may look like a pimple, a boil or a bite.
Important: If a skin infection doesn’t get better, call your health care provider. The infection may be MRSA. Special treatment is needed.
Rabies, a disease caused by animals widely distributed throughout the world, has been classified by the World Health Organization in 2008 as Neglected Tropical Communicable Diseases. The Philippines, ranking 6th with highest incidence among countries, apparently belongs to the High Risk Category of the WHO with reported 200 to 300 deaths annually and increasing number of incidences of animal bites every year.
What people do not usually know is that this infection is caused by a virus, which is spread by the infected saliva of an animal that enters through a bite or a broken skin. According to WHO, this virus will then travel from the site of wound to the brain where it will cause inflammation and eventually, and if left untreated, it may become fatal.
On Recognizing the Symptoms: In Dogs and In Humans
The PPD Better Pharmacy has indicated the symptoms, which may vary according to the manifestations of the behavior of the infected animal, predominantly in dogs here in the Philippines. The dog may either appear to be furious: exhibiting marked shift from being tame to wild, unusually restless, evident foaming of the mouth and thick saliva, difficulty in eating and drinking, or on the other hand, may seem to be dumb: being inactive or showing signs of depression, often hiding in dark places, resists eating and posing a “far away lookâ€, jaw dropping, frail, and even sudden death without any sign.
In humans, symptoms may not appear after one has been bitten by an infected reservoir, that is the so-called “incubation period†of the virus for 10-14 days, and may even also last up to 30 days. During this time, prompt treatment is necessary to prevent further progression of the infection. The manifestation of symptoms have two phases: prodromal period, where the patient is experiencing excessive salivation, sensitivity to light, sound and change in temperature, muscle stiffness, loss of appetite, depression, nausea and vomiting and fever; and the neuroleptic phase, where the patient is already showing signs of hallucinations, hyperactivity, seizures and paralysis, difficulty in breathing and feeling of pain when swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water).
On Prevention and Treatment
The only thing one should be reminded of is to avoid being bitten by wild and stray animals. People who are at risk of exposure (that is if you are a pet-owner or surrounded by stray animals, or you handle animals, or even those who explore bat caves) should be given (before exposure) rabies vaccine  for immunization. And to some degree, this vaccine may even protect people for the rest of their life provided the booster shots are administered every 2 years.
What to do when a person is bitten by a rabid animal? One must bear in mind that cases of rabies could be fatal, thus, appropriate measures should be done without delay. The wound should be treated immediately, cleaned with soap and water. People without immunization shots may be given an injection of rabies immunoglobulin (different from the vaccine as this provides immediate protection). This has antibodies against the virus, depending on the state of the animal. The WHO guidelines state that the shot is given initially (day 0), followed by shots of vaccine on days 3, 7, 14, and 28, as it stimulates the body to protect itself from the virus with much longer time.
According to the Merck Manual of Medical Information, if an immunized person has been bitten by a rabid animal, the risk of developing the rabies is reduced. However, it is still advised that the patient should be given immediate wound care and rabies immunoglobulin.
Once the symptoms develop in the victim, neither the vaccine nor the immunoglobulin is effective against the virus. Treatment is only limited, in this case, to relieving the pain and other symptoms making the person comfortable as possible; in most cases, death results due to cardiac or respiratory failure.
Prevention is always the key. Never approach animals or pets you don’t know of. Responsible pet ownership should be promoted as this can reduce the incidence of animal bites in our country. The goal is to make the Philippines a Rabies-Free nation. The world celebrates Rabies Day every 28th of September.
The public is entitled to safe streets. Without a doubt, one who will try to kill you or your children should be the first priority of law enforcement authorities. When the potential killer is a vicious dog, however, we are seeing unconscionable lapses on the part of animal control, police and prosecutors.
The latest story comes to me from Delaware County, Ohio. Last December, pit bulls attacked a man on the street and police had to shoot at them. They got away but their owner was identified. Police reports were filed but the prosecutor’s office said the same were not received. Then in April, the same dogs attacked a woman standing on her front porch and police had to shoot at the dogs again. This time, charges were filed — but too late to protect the second victim.
For all we know, there could be a good explanation as to why this prosecution did not go forward in December. At this time, however, the public has reason to question whether the police and prosecutors are performing at adequate levels with regard to dangerous dogs. The public needs to know that someone is monitoring the performance of the people who were entrusted with the safety of the community.
A couple of years ago, I was contacted by the family of Jennifer Lowe, a 21-year-old young lady who was mauled to death by pit bulls that savaged her for more than 30 minutes. It turned out that sheriffs had shot at the dogs in the past, the animal control department had declared the dogs to be vicious, but law enforcement officers then took no steps that would have saved Jennifer from her brutal fate. As a result, the renowned Tennessee lawyer Wayne A. Ritche II and I sued several parties including the County of Knox, Tennessee, because of the inactions of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and Knox County Animal Control. Following a detailed judicial evaluation of the case, Knox County offered a confidential settlement which was acceptable to Jennifer’s family.
Since then I have been pursuing similar cases against the authorities in other areas of the country. The lesson that public officials must learn from these lawsuits is that they must take vicious dogs out of the hands of irresponsible dog owners and off our streets. The dangerous dog laws must be enforced. If the authorities fail us in this important duty, the victims will have their day in court.
PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) — Did you know that 30 percent of home insurance claims in 2010 were due to dog bites?
Did you also know that many insurance companies have clauses and extra costs for the kind of dog you own?
KDKA AM’s Larry Richert and John Shumway talk to Dr. Mike Hutchinson of Animal General about whether it is right to single out a certain breed of dog as dangerous, if a dog bite is entirely the dog’s fault, and if Niko, the Husky that caused the death of a newborn in McKeesport, is safe to live with his new owner.
Click the link below to listen to the full interview:
Will the Wizards win 40 games this season? That would be 21 more than they won last season, more than doubling their win percentage.
I was sorry to see Darius Songaila go. But the Wizards’ off-season trades have been excellent. I think they will play better-than-.500 ball and will contend for a playoff spot…
…For the record: I can think of a lot of places where I would love to sit and drink a cold beer.
…As they continued their journey, He entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed Him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at His feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.â€
The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.†–Luke 10:38-42
There is plenty to do. But the life of action in this world is for the sake of reaching the life of contemplation in the next.
It is of the essence of the Church that she be both human and divine, visible and yet invisibly equipped, eager to act and yet intent on contemplation, present in this world and yet not at home in it; and she is all these things in such wise that in her the human is directed and subordinated to the divine, the visible likewise to the invisible, action to contemplation, and this present world to that city yet to come, which we seek. –Vatican Council II, Sacrosanctum Concilium 2
1. For there was never yet philosopher That could endure the toothache patiently.
–Much Ado About Nothing, Act V, Scene i
2. If he be not in love with some woman, there is no believing old signs: a’ brushes his hat o’ mornings; what should that bode?… And when was he wont to wash his face?
Like all the chapters of all the gospels, the sixth chapter of John proclaims that the Messiah has come, and it is Jesus.
Moses
It will help us to understand this chapter if we recall some of the great deeds the Lord did through His prophet Moses in ancient times. Through Moses, the Lord taught His people a lot about how to hope for the Messiah—about how to hope for freedom and salvation.
Let us recall the Exodus of the Israelites. By the power of God, Moses brought plagues upon the Egyptian slave-masters. Then he parted the Red Sea and led the people across it. Later, Moses turned the desert rock into a spring of water.
Moses also demonstrated the power of God when he brought the Law down from Mt. Sinai and then consecrated the people in a covenant of obedience to it.
It has been a month since the Monday evening that rattled me as much as I have been rattled in a long time. I think September 11, 2001, was the last time I sat in front of a televison in a state of such distress.
The Washington Metro opened when I was a little boy. My dad worked for the city then, and we rode on a special Metro ride for V.I.P.’s, the day before the system opened.
He was so excited about the Metro that he used to ride it one stop each evening, from his office at Farragut North to the end of the red line at Dupont Circle. Then he would catch the bus the rest of the way to our house (near Friendship Heights–only a shaded ‘future’ station on the map back then).
The Metro ride did not save him any time or trouble. He did it out of sheer excitement.
I guess children who grow up on farms have a special love for pigs and tractors. They do not like to see sick pigs or mangled tractors. For me, it is the Metro.
There was a deadly Metro crash in January, 1982–the same afternoon Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th-Street bridge and plummeted into the Potomac River. And a Metro operator was killed in a crash in 1996.
But I think the crash on June 22 is the event that will mark a turning point in Washington subway history equivalent to the turning point that was reached in New York City ten days before the end of World War I:
Have you ever been to Frederick Law Olmstead’s magnificent Prospect Park in Brooklyn? One of the exits of the park opens onto Empire Boulevard.
This street once had a different name. They had to change the name of the street, because the old name had become synonymous with death and horror. Empire Boulevard was once Malbone Street.
Click here for the New York Times account of the deadliest non-terrorist subway catastrophe in history, which happened in the tunnel outside the Malbone Street station on All Saints Day, 1918.
At least 93 people died. The crash occurred because a non-union scab with two hours of training was operating the Brighton Beach express during a strike. He took a six-mile-an-hour curve at 40 mph.
The responsible authorities were indicted for manslaughter.
The NYC subway bounced back. It became a professional operation. May the same happen here in Washington. And may all the dead rest in peace.
I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. (Matthew 13:13)
There are a lot of great stories. Some of them teach important lessons. Like “If you build it, they will come.â€
But the parables of Christ are not like these. The parables of Christ are in a class by themselves.
If we think Christ’s parables are moral lessons, we will not understand them. What is the moral lesson of the Parable of the Dishonest Steward?
The parables of Christ are about Christ Himself. They are about the salvation which God won for us by becoming man, suffering, dying, and rising again. The parables of Christ make sense only by the light of faith. They are not interchangeable with other morality tales.
There is a key to entering into Christ’s parables. Without the key, they are impossible to understand. With the key, Christ’s parables explain all of life, all of reality.
The key is the Nicene Creed, the truth about Who Christ is.
I have no choice but to admit that in the past two days, I have witnessed not one, but two miracles of liberal journalism.
I. Don’t know if you heard how a professor at Harvard was arrested in his own house. He claims to be the victim of police racism.
The first thing that occurred to me when I read the conflicting accounts of what happened: Wasn’t the police officer probably trying to secure the house after having received a burglary report? Why would Dr. Gates refuse to comply with the officer’s request that he step outside? Isn’t it reasonable to think that the officer asked Dr. Gates to step outside for his own safety, in the event that there was an intruder in the house?
My brother used to write for the Washington Post. Of course I would always be glad to buy my brother a beer. But other than that, I have never wanted to buy beers for Washington Post writers.
…Here is Reason #1,865 why it is impossible to take the Washington Post seriously. A quote from one of today’s editorials:
…The United States…is dealing with the omnipresent specter of another terrorist attack…
Omnipresent specter?
Would the word “threat†not suffice? Or even the phrase “constant threat?†Who hired someone from the Ministry of Truth to copy edit the Washington Post?
The truth is that there is only one Omnipresent Specter, and He does not appreciate blasphemy.
He will indeed terrorize the proud. But He will exult the humble.
He will reward those who treat the language with reverence. But the cheap word-mongers He will crush.
I was able to see King Lear at the Harman Center through the gracious generosity of a friend, and I am grateful for his kindness.
We have been down this road before. The Shakespeare-Theatre-Company production of Twelfth Night turned out to be painfully “gimmick-ridden,†and utterly unsatisfying for this “Shakespeare fundamentalist.â€
The problem is: Their production of King Lear is laden with more gimmicks than twelve Twelfth Nights. And all of the gimmicks in this production of King Lear are gross with a capital G.
Gross beyond the point of gratuity. Gross beyond the point of abysmal taste. Gross to the point of embarrassment.
St. Bernardine of Siena holding the insignia of the Holy Name of Jesus
This is what His Grace handed me:
For the welfare of the people of God, I appoint you, Reverend Mark D. White, pastor of Holy Name parish, Washington, D.C.
I hereby commit to you the full pastoral care of souls in this parish…May God grant you the grace and health to carry out this charge of priestly service for souls.
Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington
I am unworthy of such trust. Please pray for me. May the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, who together gave our Savior His Holy Name, watch over me and all the people of “Capitol Hill extended†and Trinidad.
DOGSBITE.ORG website is not run by an “expert†in the field of canine behavior. It is run by a woman with a grudge.  Her name is Colleen Lynn and she was the victim of a dog bite in 2007. Because of this incident that involved one individual dog she has decided to enact revenge on ALL pit bull type dogs.
Many question the truthfulness of Colleen’s account of what happened to her in June of 2007. Her story has changed multiple times. Pit Bulletin Legal News thoroughly investigated the incident and published these never before seen documents. It is clear to myself and many others “that Ms. Lynn never published the Seattle Animal Control records regarding the investigation because the story she is now telling bears very little resemblance to what actually happened, and are in total conflict with the only other witness involved: the dogwalker.â€Â
While Colleen’s blatant disregard for the truth on her website  is not a surprise and not unexpected, it is important for all of us to have the correct information easily available. Thankfully there is the National Canine Research Council whose dedicated staff comb through the details of every dog bite related fatality.
The National Canine Research Council “re-interviews sources the media has reached, and located others they have not, among whom may be police investigators, animal control officers, coroners, veterinarians, health department officials, dog owners, and eye witnesses. They have obtained incident reports, bite reports, human and animal autopsy reports, summaries of judicial proceedings, and crime scene data and photographs when available.â€
Access the National Canine Research Dog Bite Statistics HERE NCRC’s informative section on ineffective laws including breed specific legislation HERE FAQ’s regarding dog bites HERE and Breed Specific FAQ’s HERE
Dog bite-related fatalities are exceedingly rare. In 2010, 33 fatalities occurrd within a population of more than 308 million and a canine population estimated at over 78 million. NCRC is currently investigating 31 incidents in a dog population of over 78 million that occurred during 2011 thay may qualify as dog bite related fatalities. A final tally is subject to change as a result of NCRC’s thorough investigations. Their final report will be available the first week of 2013.
“There are at least two parties involved in a dog bite; a dog and one or more humans. Dog behavior cannot be understood or analyzed apart from humans, or the situations in which humans have placed dogs.â€
Fight For My Rights! If not you, who? If not now, when?
A physician acquaintance of mine is on a mission to promote awareness, especially amongst emergency physicians, of the potential for post-traumatic stress disorder in children who have been attacked and/or bitten by dogs. Thus this blog post. As a practicing psychiatrist, he has treated a number of such children, and he believes that it is very important for physicians who are treating these children for their bite wounds to inform parents to actively watch for signs of PTSD and to obtain evaluation and treatment if indicated. Dr. Schmitt has lectured and published on this topic (Larry Schmitt, MD, Dog bites in children: Focus on posttraumatic stress disorder, Contemporary Pediatrics, Jul 1, 2011). He makes a good case for the need for parents and pediatricians to monitor these children closely after their injury, and for incorporating information about PTSD into post-treatment ED and inpatient discharge instructions.
One may not readily consider the diagnosis of PTSD in children, but after dog bites it appears that children pick up on the guilt and sadness in their parents’ faces, and tend to bury their feelings and avoid discussion of the attack. This of course may precipitate PTSD, and make it more difficult to identify this pathology unless one recognizes the symptoms (excessive anxiety, irritability, decreased school performance, sleep disturbance, reduced creativity, withdrawal, altered appetite, depression, physical complaints, pronounced startle responses, and behavior problems), and relates them back to the attack. Parents need to know not only how to recognize PTSD, but also what to do to mitigate the potential for their child to develop PTSD. Preemptive psychological management is likely to be helpful, and parents need to participate in helping their children cope with this trauma and its psychological impact.
Dr. Stanley Goodman published a pdf on the web which provides an extensive outline of this issue; and he suggests that ‘children need to be helped to understand the following, in order to lessen their feelings of vulnerability and helplessness:
1. that many children become fearful whenever they have reminders of the incident, such as seeing other dogs or even watching movies/TV shows with dogs.
2. that they may feel more nervous when they leave their house, fearing they may be attacked and bitten again by a dog.
3. that they may experience depressive symptoms, such as feelings of helplessness, frustration, and diminished social and/or educational functioning; but these feelings are not a sign of weakness. Rather, they are a foreseeable reaction to having been bitten.’
Emergency physicians treat a lot of children with dog bites, and they have an important role to play beyond caring for the injuries themselves. Making parents aware of the potential for PTSD, providing information about the signs and symptoms of PTSD in written dog-bite discharge instructions, and suggesting referrals for preemptive psychological counseling can all make a significant contribution to the child’s successful recovery from this kind of trauma.
These aren’t my sermons, anyway. I only speak at the Lord’s command. It’s only dread of Him that stops me keeping quiet. -–St. Augustine , Sermon 82
I life would wish, and that I might waste it for you like taper-light. –Wm. Shakespeare
(I, unfortunately, do not have a driver. Otherwise, though: very similar lifestyle.)
Is there any doubt that solar is a viable industry? Wait until the big dogs REALLY start to eat the little dogs. We’re witnessing consolidation at the commercial level, but eventually the little installers will get out priced by the mid-sized corporate backed installers. Solar is not going to stay a green alternative, it will become a stable household energy producing appliance.
Bite this Book is the first book truly for dogs. Through an inner sweetness that communicates via the language of the heart, it will bring your dog peace.
“Bite this Book will help dogs feel more understood,†Pamela Marks (animal communicator).
Author: Lony Ruhmann Cover Design: Lisa Siegel Illustrations: Pritali Joharapurkar
And if the talk show king has his way, the issue won’t go before a judge or jury, which has the plaintiff’s legal team heated.
“Dr. Phil’s response to the complaint exhibits his arrogance which is consistent with the unconscionable manner in which he’s treated Janet Harris since the day she as bitten by Maggie,†said personal injury lawyer, Larry Nagelberg, a founding partner of Nagelberg Bernard Law Group representing Harris, told RadarOnline.com.
In the court documents, obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com, Dr. Phil’s attorneys are demanding that the lawsuit be dismissed because it’s in violation of an agreement to arbitrate any disputes.
“His motion is an attempt to deny her the right to a jury trial by using a declaration that has nothing whatsoever to do with the case at issue,†Nagelberg said.
Harris was frequently featured on Dr. Phil’s talk show as a skin care specialist and became a close confidant of the McGraws. Her lawsuit contends that she traveled with the McGraws for business and pleasure, spent holidays with them and more.
But all of that changed when Harris visited the McGraw’s Beverly Hills home in late 2009 and Maggie, their Korean Jindo, allegedly attacked Harris “without provocation and warning,†according to the complaint filed February 2.
Harris states in her filing that the dog bit her right hand and arm so hard she bled.
According to the complaint, Robin McGraw offered to take Harris to the hospital, but Dr. Phil instructed his wife not to because it would create “unnecessary†bad press and he wanted to handle it privately.
In lieu of seeking medical treatment at a hospital, Harris was prescribed antibiotics by a physician through a nurse friend, but the next day her arm was swollen, the documents state.
The lawsuit claims that after getting a Tetanus shot, Harris was forced to take IV antibiotics and had to see an infectious disease specialist who diagnosed her with pastuerella multocida — a disease caused by an animal bite.
Harris says in her lawsuit that the dog bite injury caused the infection and that it would have been fatal if she had not been placed on antibiotics within 72 hours.
The lawsuit further states that her medical conditions hindered her ability to work and she was subsequently evicted and forced to close her Beverly Hills clinic.
A police officer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was a K-9 handler of an explosives detection dog owned by the Transportation Security Administration. TSA provides bomb dogs to state and local law enforcement agencies under the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP). TSA is responsible for training the dogs and their handlers, as well as for establishing search protocols used by the Port Authority. The Port Authority is responsible for providing handlers, daily care, and kenneling of the dogs. The Port Authority has a “Local Canine Training Manual,†which specifies that safe handling and control of the dog rests with the individual handler to whom it is assigned. Handlers are to report any problems with dogs, such as a dog that growls at the handler. Handlers can also contact the TSA training office for minor behavioral and acclimation problems.
Officer Newsham was assigned a bomb detection dog named Dini trained at the Lackland Air Force Base “Dog School.†(Official picture here shows puppies that will enter Lackland’s TSA program.) Officer Newsham received an “acclimation packet†from TSA and an “ouch letter,†which provided information on how to adjust the dog to its new environment in the handler’s home. There was advice on how to avoid dog bites. Dini spent nonworking hours at Officer Newsham’s home.
Newsham began to notice Dini jumping on bags during searches, a behavior considered inappropriate and aggressive. At the Newsham’s home, the dog did not interact well with the Newshams’ pet dogs. Dini began to be aggressive towards Newsham himself. Newsham took the dog to a military veterinarian for a semi-annual exam and described the aggressive behavior, but no action was taken. There was no protocol for the veterinarian to remove the dog from an assignment. Newsham also mentioned the behavior to his NEDCTP Coordinator, who perhaps should have been concerned in part because aggressive behavior, particularly in alerting, can be dangerous with bomb dogs coming in contact with explosive materials. (Some dogs are trained to recognize both explosives and narcotics, and some trainers attempt to use different alerts with the same dog when training it to recognize different categories of odors, but there is no mention of that here.)
The evening of January 7, 2007, Newsham was watching TV and his son and the dog were in the room. The boy was putting together a puzzle and dropped a piece, which both he and the dog went for at the same time. The dog bit the boy. The boy’s mother filed a complaint against TSA as the owner of the dog, alleging negligence and violation of the New Jersey dog bite statute, seeking damages.
The TSA noted that the NEDCTP has a policy that no one should pet an assigned canine other than the handler. Further, TSA allows local law enforcement agencies to board assigned dogs in the handlers’ homes but also to put them in kennels. The court found that NEDCTP officials had not violated program requirements, and held the TSA immune from suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 1346(b). State law claims could proceed against the Port Authority in state court, however. Newsham v. Transportation Security Administration, 2010 WL 715838 (D.N.J. 2010).
Dog bite laws have been applied to police dogs. See Hyatt v. Anoka Police Department, 691 NW2d 828 (Minn. Sup. Ct. 2005). The circumstances here, however, are rather unique and the officer may share some of the responsibility since he knew the dog was becoming aggressive. It is not clear to me that having the wife sue on behalf of the son and leaving the husband off the plaintiff list will resolve this conflict if the matter comes before another court.
It would be unfortunate if a case like this were taken as indicating that police dogs should be kenneled while off duty. There is good evidence that a dog that lives and plays with its handler will be more obedient to the handler and generally a better police dog. This appears to be more important in achieving a good relationship than a long period of working together. Lefebvre, D., Diederich, C., Delcourt, M., and Giffroy, J.-M. (2007). The Quality of the Relation Between Handler and Military Dogs Influences Efficiency and Welfare of Dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 104, 49-60.
Dog bite suits offer full-body protection for the purpose of training k9′s to defend police officers. If you are interested in purchasing a bite suit for your police department, contact jack@keylink.net.
Many of the loose dog calls that we get are from folks who were out walking, or walking their dogs and were “approached” by a loose dog or dogs. And several of the Human Bitten calls are due to loose dogs and someone walking, jogging, or walking their dog.
Unfortunately, there are going to be loose dogs. Even if everyone in America had steel fences, some dogs would still be able to get loose. And unfortunately, many times these loose dogs are not so nice. So, what do you do to protect yourself? How do you prevent yourself or your own dog from being attacked or getting bitten? Here are the suggestions that I offer to people when they make contact with me in the field
My number one recommendation is to carry an umbrella. Did you know that it is illegal to carry a baseball bat or a golf club unless you are going to play baseball or golf? So walking through a neighborhood with a baseball bat or golf club could get you a visit from the local police or sheriff department. BUT an umbrella is totally legal and you can carry it year round. You can use it to shade yourself from the hot summer sun, or protect you from the winter rain. and it can help protect you from an aggressive dog.
I especially recommend the type of umbrellas that have the little auto open buttons. If you are approached by a aggressive or questionable dog, you point the umbrella in the dog’s direction and POP it open. Most of the time this will distract the dogs focus from you and/or your dog and sometimes it’s scary enough to send them running off.
If it doesn’t send him running you now have the open umbrella to help provide a barrier between you and the dog. Yes I know it’s a flimsy piece of cloth and wires, but the dog doesn’t know that. And it’s a lot more than you would have if you didn’t have the umbrella at all. Another benefit to umbrellas is they are very light weight to hold in one hand. Leaving your other hand free. If you are walking your leashed dog you can bring your dog in closer to you with your free hand.
If the dog is still bothering you, thrust the umbrella at it and yell sternly and loudly “GO HOME!” Repeat this several times until dog retreats and you can walk away to a safe distance. Don’t try to run from the dog. As my friend and fellow Officer 450 says “Fours legs will ALWAYS beat Two”.
What if the dog is just not leaving you alone? Poke it with the umbrella! The umbrella is not going to hurt it as much as it biting you is going to hurt. Give the dog a few good jabs. Be stern with telling him to go home. Be angry at him. Tell him he is a BAD DOG and GO HOME. Usually if your making enough noise a neighbor or the owner will hear you and can possibly provide some assistance.
Advice, when you are retreating or walking away, try to do so by walking sideways or backwards for at least a few steps. try to keep an eye on the dog as you retreat. Or get cars or garbage cans between you and the dog. Don’t let down your guard until the dog is out of sight.
If your walking your dog and the worst happens before you can react and open the umbrella, use it to defend yourself and your dog.
DO NOT try to pick your dog up or grab your dog or the other dog by the collar YOU WILL GET BIT! DO try to swing your dog away by it’s leash and use your umbrella to stab at the attacking dog. Also, trying to put your body between the two dogs will most likely end up in you being bitten. Do anything and everything you can to draw attention to your attack. You also may have to release your dog’s leash in order to get a hose or other object to break the dogs up. Again NEVER reach in with your hands to break dogs apart!
Once it’s over, if your dog is injured, take it to your vet. After getting your dog to the vet then call Animal Services. If your dog is not injured, this is when you should call Animal Services to report the loose aggressive dog. One important thing you will need to know is the address. Drive your car over to get the house address. If you do not know which house the dog actually came from give the address of where the incident happened. Chances are if they are not the dog owners they will know who the dog belongs to. Give the best description of the dog that you can. Just saying it’s a Pit bull or a Big dog is not helpful. If there is no address and no dog description we will drive down the street and not see anything and move on to our next call. Your Animal Services department should be able to advise you of what to do next.
DOG BITES
What if you were bitten? NUMBER ONE…Go to the Doctor! I know here in California, Doctors are required by law to report ALL animal bites to Animal Services. Animal bites are a high priority for Animal Services, so if you do not hear from your local Animal Services within 24-48 hours of your bite call them to make sure they received the Doctor’s report and have all the correct information. You can also ask what the protocol is for Bites. Protocols can vary by agency, but all domestic animals that bite must go through a quarantine period of at least 10 days. Some incidents require longer quarantine periods, it depends on the circumstances, type of animal and incident. The most important thing is to verify is the Rabies vaccinations.
What if you were bitten by your own dog? It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, even if it was an accident or as many people say “my fault”. State laws require that when an animal bites and the skin has been broken, that animal must be quarantined and rabies vaccination verified. Animal Services does not want to take your dog. and even if your dog bites and circumstances require that the dog be quarantined at the shelter. You will be able to get your dog back. Many times your dog can be quarantined at your vet or at your home. Again it depends on your agency’s protocol and the circumstances. Like anything else, the more cooperative you are the faster and smoother it will be done with.
CAT BITES
If you are bitten by a cat, your or any other, GO IMMEDIATELY TO A DOCTOR! I cannot emphasize this enough. Just a little pin prick bite can and 9 times out of 10 WILL turn into a nasty infection. Cats mouths are very infectious. Antibiotics will be a must. I believe it was 460 who had a little tiny puncture bite on her finger and she was hospitalized because she didn’t go to the doctor right away. I was bitten and scratched by a feral cat and left work to go to the doctor. I ended up waiting in the ER waiting room for 4 hours and in that time I had swelling, pain and red streaks starting to go up my arm. Cat bites are bad stuff. The same protocol will be required for quarantine and rabies verification.
This is also why it is very important that your pets be vaccinated and kept up to date on Rabies vaccinations. Â
Dog bite is a problem that you may face, either because of the dog in your neighborhood or even if you own a dog yourself. Though most dogs bite when they are playful and naughty, they may also bite fiercely when they are angry and this of course, will be a serious problem. Dog bites are relatively common in children as there are a number of dog breeds that are not really tolerant with children. Even though the dog may be vaccinated as per schedule, its biting you poses various problems that need to be taken care of in the form of dog bite treatment. Multiple dig bites need special attention and the lack of treatment may lead to the development of a dog bite infection.Treatment for Dog Bite – Puncture WoundsPuncture wounds are those in which the dog’s teeth pierce into the skin but no tearing of the skin takes place. Dog bite treatment should be administered as soon as the victim has managed to set himself free of the dog or at least within eight hours of the bite. Lock the dog up in a crate and take the victim as far away as possible from the dog. Start administering dog bite treatment by following basic first aid guidelines. If the victim is bleeding badly, try stopping the bleeding by applying pressure. Once the bleeding stops, clean the area of the bite with an antibacterial or anti-septic solution. Make sure you clean the wound thoroughly of all the dirt. Apply some betadine to the wound site and then cover it up with some antibiotic ointment applied to a sterile gauze.Treatment for Dog Bite – LacerationIn case of laceration wounds, the skin is torn by the penetration of the dog’s teeth into the skin. This is a serious type of dog bite wound and needs immediate medical attention. Stitches will be required to cure this type of wound and it usually leaves back a noticeable scar. This types of dog bite wound will also require more time to heal as compared to the puncture wounds.Dog Bite CareIn both the types of dog bites, antibiotics should be administered to prevent dog bite infections that can be caused by the bacteria deposited by the dog’s teeth. Allowing the blood to flow for a few minutes after the bite will also help eliminate the bacteria. Make sure the wound is kept covered for its healing to take place normally. The wound many be accompanied by some amount of swelling and pain for which pain killers can be taken. Keep the bite affected area in an elevated position to reduce the swelling. Gather information about the dog’s immunization status. If the dog has it vaccinations in place, the victim may just require a tetanus shot, else rabies vaccination needs to be administered. This is essential for the prevention of rabies and sepsis. Read more on rabies symptoms in humans.
Ever since, I was dreaming to have a vacation in PALAWAN. Finally, that dream came true last July of this year. I was so excited in packing my stuff, and I was imagining myself touring the underground river, visiting some parks in Puerto Prinsesa, etc. 923 more words and 6 likes
A little self-plug here, along with a HUGE opportunity for readers to attend an awesome and educational event in Atlanta, GA on May 4th (as if you need a reason to go to Atlanta)…..
And for Animal Control Officers, we still have a number of scholarships available for you to attend since we know your agencies are broke, broke, broke…..
I will be joined by Victoria Stilwell, trainer, author, and star of “It’s Me Or The Dog; Dr. Mark Wulkan, Chief of Surgery at Childrens’ Healthcare of Atlanta; Claudine Wilkins, legal and legislative expert; and other leaders in the field of dog bites and surrounding legal, medical, and practical issues. Â Come and learn, socialize, and share with others your questions and experiences. Â Help us reduce the number of needless injuries that occur every year.
Mark your calendars to attend an important conference presented by The State Bar of Georgia, The Animal Law Section, and Children’s Health Care of Atlanta:
 The National Dog Bite Investigation, Treatment and Prevention Conference:
A Symposium by and for Lawyers, Judges, Medical Professionals, First Responders (EMS, ACO, ER), Veterinarians & Technicians, Animal Control Officers, Police, Dog Trainers, Educators, Shelter Directors and Legislators addressing current issues affecting the education and interaction of professionals in preventing and treating dog bites and victims.
  Register Early. Space is Limited.
 Limited scholarships available for Animal Control Officers.
Once when I was a kid, I was riding my bike, and a neighbor’s dog ran out and bit me on the leg. I cried all the way home. I love dogs, but I also respect them.
