Preventing Dog Bites, Dog Bites and Cat Bites

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.  

Kids & Pets – Tips for Preventing Dog Bites

By Suzanne Alicie

As a responsible pet owner, I have to be diligent in making sure that my dog Bear doesn’t bite someone. When we go for a walk most adults know how to approach a strange dog, or at least know better than to run up squealing and jumping around. Children, on the other hand, are naturally exuberant and excited to see a dog and they all want to pet her; she’s big and fluffy, and just draws them in.

Unfortunately, Bear is not very social and really does not appreciate the excitement of children that she doesn’t know. This can lead to heart stopping moments when I’m praying that Bear won’t snap at someone, or that the parents will take charge of their children so that I don’t have to tell the child, “STOP, don’t touch the dog.” Because then children cry and parents get angry because I’ve yelled at their child. They don’t realize that I’m trying to protect them.

I’d rather yell at their child than have my dog cause them to be hurt or even scared of dogs. Sometimes her barks and growls are pretty scary too, and she does get vocal when she feels crowded or threatened. I believe children should have a healthy fear of many things, but especially dogs. This is different from a real fear, and is more of a respect and knowledge of the possibility that the dog could bite.

As parents, it’s important that you teach your children not to approach strange dogs and if you have dogs and children you must teach your child to respect your dog as a member of the family. They have to understand that they could harm the dog if they play too rough, which could also make the dog bite them. Children aren’t mean intentionally, but sometimes they forget that their dog isn’t a stuffed animal and may try to pick him up by his tail or pull his hair while they are playing.

Feeding time is the time to keep your kids away from the dog completely. Even the most well trained dog could give in to instinct and snap at a child who gets too close to them while they are eating. In your own home and with your own children, all it usually takes to prevent dog bites is to accustom your children to being around a dog and respecting the dog’s space.

When you take your dog out, it may be wise to consider a muzzle to protect children from bites and always make sure that your harness, leash and collar are in good shape. An escaped dog running to-and-fro incites people to help you by chasing him. This could lead to strangers getting a bite for their efforts, especially children who think they are helping.

Even if you have a nice dog who likes children, it’s always important to make sure that strange children approach the dog calmly and give your pooch time to sniff them before they reach for him. Always carry a few CANIDAE dog treats when you go to the park so that you can help children become acquainted with your dog and reward your dog at the same time for being so well behaved.

Top photo by Ernst Vikne
Bottom photo by Mr. Dtb

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

National Dog Bite Prevention Week- Preventing Bites in Children

In the first part of our series, we discussed why dogs bite. Today, we’re going to discuss how to prevent dog bites in children. Below are some interesting statistics on dog bites in children:

According to the American Humane Association:

• 50% of dog attacks involved children under 12 years old


• 82% of dog bites treated in the emergency room involved children under 15 years old


• 70% of dog-bite fatalities occurred among children under 10 years old⁵
  


• Bite rates are dramatically higher among children who are 5 to 9 years old


• Unsupervised newborns were 370 times more likely than an adult to be killed by a dog


• 65% of bites among children occur to the head and neck


• Boys under the age of 15 years old are bitten more often than girls of the same age

Although adults do often get dog bites, it is blatantly obvious that children are the more likely victims of being bitten or attacked by dogs. Children don’t always have the best manners, and may treat dogs like they would a stuffed animal. The only difference is a stuffed animal can’t cause severe injury or bodily harm! Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent dog bites in children.

The first way to prevent bites or attacks is to never, EVER leave an infant or a young child alone with a dog. If they are left alone and the child is bitten, you have no way to know if the child provoked the attack or if it was unprovoked. It is unfortunate, but if something happens to your child when you’re not there, odds are you will never be able to trust your dog again, and your dog can sense that distrust.

Dr. Sophia Yin

Next, make sure you start educating your children at an early age. Dr. Stacey Kilcullen highly recommends that everyone check out Dr. Sophia Yin’s Website. Dr. Sophia Yin is an internationally acclaimed veterinary behaviorist, and her website has an entire section on dog bite prevention, with a variety of links geared toward preventing dog bites in children. Click Here for a direct link to this section of her website.

When your child meets an unknown dog, always make sure you have your child ask the owner if it’s OK to pet their dog. Asking permission is not only a courtesy to the pet owner, but if the pet is not friendly then a crisis is diverted.

If there is an unknown dog loose in your neighborhood, your child should not run, and especially not scream. Running and screaming will attract the dog, and make the dog more likely to chase them. Instead, stand motionless. The best way to describe this to a child is by telling them to “be still like a tree.”

Instruct your child to never approach a dog when they are sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. If a dog is woken from a deep enough sleep, it could seriously scare the dog, causing it to lash out and who/whatever happens to be closest. Some dogs are also food aggressive, and if approach while eating may think that you are a threat to their food.

Sources:

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html

Preventing Dog Bites

   It seems that  almost weekly the news contains a story relating to a dog bite or mauling. When one begins to examine the situation or cause; sadly it may have been avoided. Each year in the U.S. alone, an estimated 5 million people–nearly 2% of the population–are bitten by dogs. About 800,000 of these people require medical attention as the result of the bite or attack, and about 15-20 die from their injuries. These numbers, however, while alarming, are not particularly shocking, given that there are an estimated 65 million dogs in the U.S. What may be more surprising is that most dog bites are preventable if owners train and care for their dogs properly and if potential bite victims–that is to say, nearly all of us–know how to behave around dogs.  Even a good dog can bite.

Here are 11 suggestions for avoiding dog bites:

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   Keep your distance from dogs you don’t know. Some dogs are so cute it’s almost impossible to resist petting them. Think twice before you try to make friends with an unfamiliar dog, because some dogs simply aren’t very friendly, and many otherwise pleasant dogs may be skittish around strangers.

• Never try to pet an unfamiliar dog that’s behind a fence, tied up, or in a car. Dogs can be very protective of their territory, and if you enter their space you’re just asking to be bitten.


• Avoid loose dogs. If you’re walking and you see an unfenced, untied dog up ahead, try to avoid it. Cross the street or go around the block. Stay out of reach of dogs on leashes, as well.
  
  
  


• Ask the dog owner’s permission before you pet a dog. If a dog doesn’t handle strangers well, the owner usually knows.

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   Allow dogs to investigate you before you touch them. Dogs are naturally curious and may want to sniff you or approach you slowly. This is usually not threatening behavior, but if you don’t allow a dog to investigate you before you try to touch him, he’s liable to bite in self-defense. By the same token, never surprise a dog and touch him when he’s not expecting it.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Be gentle. Don’t play rough with a dog, or the dog may play rough back, which may result in you getting bitten. An excited dog is an unpredictable dog.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Let sleeping dogs lie. Don’t rouse a dog that’s sleeping, especially if it’s not your dog. In addition, avoid disturbing dogs while they’re feeding, chewing on a bone or chew toy, or caring for their puppies.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Stay away from mad dogs. Dogs frequently will tell you if they don’t want you around. If a dog growls, bears its teeth and wrinkles its nose in a snarl, or if the hair on a dog’s back is raised, keep away.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Stand your ground. Don’t run away from a dog, especially a threatening one. Turning your back on a dog and running may awaken the dog’s instinct to chase prey, and you don’t want to be prey. If you encounter an unfamiliar dog, keep your cool, and walk slowly away without turning your back. Stand still if the dog appears ready to attack you, and keep your hands close to your sides with your fingers curled in to prevent getting them bitten.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Avoid eye contact with a dog. Don’t look a strange dog right in the eyes. The dog may see this as a challenge.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Teach children how to act around dogs, and don’t leave children unattended with dogs. Children are small and vulnerable to bites, and they also tend to want to play with dogs even when dogs aren’t feeling up to playing. This can lead to situations where a child is in fact harassing a dog, and the dog may become aggressive in order to get the child to stop. If you are leaving the room with a dog and a small child, take the dog with you. That way, if the child has a scratch or a bruise, you know it was not caused by the dog.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Do not HUG dogs. Dogs do not hug each other. Dogs mount each other to mate, show dominance, or to try to get a reaction from another dog. Hugging a dog might get a reaction you do not want, a nip or a bite. Hugging a dog is rude. It is much kinder and more polite to simply stand there, or stroke the friendly dog under its chin.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Be careful when moving an injured dog. A dog in pain may lash out even at a friendly person. If you do want to help move a dog that has been injured, either be prepared to receive a minor bite or put on heavy gloves and a heavy coat to protect yourself. If the owner is present, ask him or her to handle the dog’s head while you help lift the body. Covering a dog’s head with a coat or shirt might help to prevent the dog from seeing you and might block the bite.
   

   
   
   
   


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    Be careful when splitting up dogs that are fighting. If possible try not to physically touch the dogs at all. Spraying with a hose or pepper spray may work. If the fight is not too serious, human breath spray (Listerine or Binaca)is disgusting to most dogs, but not harmful. If you have to touch them, grab them by the hind legs to pull them apart. Don’t touch them near their collars, heads or shoulders. If both dogs seem to want to keep fighting, try to drag one through a doorway or gate, and use the door/gate to separate them.

    
    


11. As dog owners, there are steps we can take to help our dog deal with situations better and not respond by biting.

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   Begin socializing your dog early. Dogs that feel uncomfortable or threatened around new people or other dogs are more likely to bite. Introducing your dog to other people and critters first in a non-threatening environment (your home, for example), and then by bringing him out into new environments will ease your dog’s fears and improve his behavior around others.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Get your dog accustomed to eating around people. Since most bites occur when someone tries to pet a dog who is eating, distract your dog when it is a puppy. push it’s head away from the bowl, take the bowl, push or rub it, do things that you normally shouldn’t. This will socialize the dog to people being around it while it is eating, effectively reducing the risk of a biting.  This especially important when you have small children in the home.  I also instruct my puppy owners to purchase and use a 48″ wire carte as a “safe place” for the puppy–when he is in his “house” he is not to be bothered.  I also advise them to feed the puppy in the crate–prevent distractions and you know how much the puppy is eating.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Train your dog basic commands. Training your dog to sit, stay, and drop his toys on command will give your dog the discipline he needs in order for you to help him stay out of trouble.  I use “leave it” and “drop It”–I also teach them “give it to me”.  I Never place my hand in their mouth to take away an object–I let them give it to me.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Play non-aggressive games with your dog and don’t encourage biting. Games like tug-of-war can strengthen a dog’s instinct to bite and can make him feel that biting is acceptable behavior. The same can be said if you allow your puppy to nip your hands. That behavior can mean trouble when the puppy gets older and  bigger.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Keep your dog’s vaccinations up-to-date. A sick dog, particularly one with rabies, is a dangerous dog, no matter how gentle or well-trained he is normally.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Be a loving and responsible owner. While it’s important to discipline your dog, do not discipline him by hitting him or by other violent means. Give your dog plenty of attention and make sure he knows that people are his best friends. Neglected or abused dogs are much more likely to bite people than are dogs that are showered with love and attention. Besides, animal abuse and neglect is reprehensible, and it’s a crime. If, for whatever reason, you can’t care for a dog properly you should not have one.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Keep your dog on a leash when out and about. A leash is the most effective bite-prevention device available. Without a leash you don’t have any way to make certain your dog doesn’t run after a dog or another person. Besides, leash laws are common, so if you don’t have your dog leashed, you may be breaking the law. If you know your dog gets nervous around strange people and animals, consider also using a soft muzzle on walks to prevent aggressive behavior such as barking and nipping.
   

   
   
   
   


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   Keep your dog away from trouble situations. If you know that dog doesn’t interact well with other dogs, don’t bring him to the neighborhood dog park. If your dog gets aggressive around delivery men, keep your dog in another room when you answer the door. As a pet owner, you know your dog’s personality and dislikes, and you are in the best position to keep him or her out of trouble. PLEASE if your dogs does play well witgh other dogs DON”T take it to a dog park and turn it loose!!

   
   


9. Here are a few general tips to avoid dog bites:

• When walking your dog, make sure you keep your dog on a leash and stay clear of other dogs. Try to anticipate problems if you see another dog ahead. Even if your dog is friendly, that doesn’t mean everyone else’s is. If a fight does break out, be careful how you go about breaking it up (see above). As the dog’s owner you will almost certainly have to get involved even though there is a risk of being bitten. If the fight isn’t broken up quickly, one or both of the dogs could suffer serious injury.  NEVER grab at the head of a dog fighting–if you can, grab the hind legs and pull them apart.

• Understand that just about any dog can inflict a serious bite. Plenty of people who have the good sense to avoid a huge Rottweiler get bitten because they don’t think twice about approaching a feisty little dachshund. As a home health nurse, I had more problems with dogs under 10 pounds ( and I will list no breeds!!) than large dogs going after me trying to bite me.

• If you leave your dog in the yard alone, make sure the yard is securely fenced and/or that the dog is on a chain. Do not leave your dog chained for extended periods, as this is known to foster aggression.  I personally do not approve of chaining any dog-I would rather secure my dog inside my fence or a roomy dog kennel.

Remember:  Early training and socialization can help your puppy grow into a confident dog. Educating yourself on dog behaviors can help alert you  and avoid  a possible biting situation.  Training your children on proper behaviors can help foster a loving relationship for  both your kids and your dog. Good dogs don’t just happen–it takes investing time, training and love to have a good canine citizen. This should be the primary responsibility of every dog owner. If more dog owners did, we would have less tragic result of dog bites in the news.  JMO.  

 I hope that some of this information may be helpful to dog owners.  The more you educate yourself on how to be a better pet owner, the better life for you and your pet. Life is great when you can spend and share it with all your family members–especially the 4-legged ones!!

Catie Arney                 kiokeemastiffs@embarqmail.com

 

Preventing Injuries from Dog Bites: What Every Dog Owner Should Do

Dogs, despite their loyalty and gentleness still have the ability to inflict hurt on any individual, including their owners. As it is, domesticated dogs can become aggressive; in fact, there are a lot of contributory factors when it comes to bites and attacks towards humans. For example, trying to remove any food item or water from the dog’s place may cause it to become agitated, which would then lead to an attack or bite.

The same may happen if a dog is sick or in pain. Approaching the dog in such a situation may result in an attack. Even staring directly at a dog may be perceived by the latter as a sign of threat, causing it to bite an individual.

However, it is possible to prevent dogs from biting someone, as long as the owners put their effort in keeping their pets well-maintained and disciplined, especially when it comes to dealing with other people. As such, here are some valuable ways on how dog owners can prevent their dogs from injuring other people:

Training is important. As it is, almost all domesticated dogs are capable of getting trained, not only through tricks, but also in socializing with other people. The latter is more important, as dogs that are highly-trained to be engage with other people are less likely to be aggressive towards them.

Dog owners must know that letting their dogs loose out in the open may cause them to injure other people through attacks on innocent bystanders. That is unless they are trained.

Adult dog owners must also keep an eye on their pets, especially when there are children present. A large percentage of dog bite victims are children age 12 year or below.

Responsible dog owners know that their pet canines are receiving vaccinations, especially against the dreaded rabies virus. As it is, a dog bite can turn out to be deadly, especially if left untreated.

While some dog breeds are gentle, some are known for their aggressiveness that they are often kept as guard dogs. Owners must be able to let passers-by know to be “Beware of the Dog” within the premises.

Meanwhile, dog bites often result in personal injury claims. As it is, a dog owner may be held liable for the dog’s actions if a case of dog bite happens. In this situation, a dog bite victim may seek a Los Angeles injury attorney who can establish a claim against the owner.