dog bite- to report or not??

[MissMilly]

So my mother in law was bitten by a dog today at a national chain pet store. Details are fuzzy, but she had her small, quiet, mind its own business dog under her arm. I’ve literally never seen this dog bark, or acknowledge another dog in any way. My MIL is a dog person and would never reach for someone else’s pet, especially not a strange man’s dog.

Apparently another dog in the store jumped up and bit her arm. Not enough to require stitches, but enough to send her to urgent care to have the wound evaluated and cleaned. I have no idea where in the store it happened, or what they were all doing. She’s in her 80s, so it’s not like she was running around doing cartwheels.

Anyway, now the question is whether to report the dog to the police and the health department. It kills me that a dog may be euthanized because I filed a report. On the other hand, a dangerous dog walking around is not a good thing. I have no way to know whether this was a one time freak thing, or if it’s an aggressive dog with an incompetent handler that is a danger to others. MIL is no help- just says “I don’t know.”

I’ve sort of been left in charge of this decision and I’m agonizing- what say COTH?

[BuddyRoo]

I don’t see how you’re in charge of this decision since it’s a mandatory report for the doctor? If MIL said that it was a dog bite, they will have to report.

And, even if they report, as long as the dog has had a rabies vaccine within the timeline per the local law, all is reasonably well.

Personally, I would want clarification that the dog was vaccinated for rabies. I wouldn’t want to make a big hairy deal out of it either. But I’ve worked in vet med on and off for 20 years, been nipped at, etc but never had to go to urgent care and always had the vaccination history right in front of me.

Thing is, all of this really should’ve been done on the spot. So if they can’t locate the dog, your MIL may have to undergo rabies shots.

I dunno. What does her doctor advise? It seems like for her protection, this would be something to pursue.

[Sugarwells]

Let it go.

[Casey09]

I’ve always figured that if you’re around dogs enough, you’re going to get bitten. I would want to know that the dog was vaccinated for rabies, and after that I would drop it. It’s a personal decision though.

[MissMilly]

Mil says urgent care wasn’t too interested in the details, it doesn’t sound like whoever treated her knew about mandatory reporting.
I’m trying to get in touch with the vet clinic the guy gave her to verify the dog’s vaccination record.
More info on incident- A guy was walking two dogs on a leash. MIL was walking by with her little dog under her arm. The guy’s dog lunged for the little dog and got my MIL by the elbow.
What really irks me is the guy never said he was sorry!!! My MIL had to make him stop while she checked her arm since he didn’t believe she had been bit. The dog broke skin through a shirt and sweater. I guess the pet store manager came out and got the guy’s info. What a mess!

[JanM]

Definitely report. I bet this isn’t the dog’s first bite either. Animal Control and the Health Department need to confirm the rabies status. The owner might not have given her the right information either, so the authorities need to get involved.

[hoopoe]

agree with Jan

report, for many reasons

the next person may not be so lucky,

be sure your mother follows through with her doctor. Breaking the skin on a person of her age has potential for great seriousness. Do not depend on the appearance of the bite area as a guide

[Where_sMyWhite]

Me? Report it.

Especially if it was enough of a bite to require urgent care. Even if this is the dog’s first bite, I would be concerned that it would not be his last…

[BuddyRoo]

I probably wouldn’t report it if I could verify the vaccination history and I didn’t require any medical intervention. And given that the dog wasn’t going after me to begin with (as in your MIL’s sitch).

But the doctors should have. It’s not an “optional” thing per the health dept. Especially if no one has proof yet that the dog was vaccinated.

Now…in all liklihood, everything is fine. But there were a few failures along the way here IMHO.

[MissMilly]

Wanted to clarify- she’s not interested in anything from the man, other than an assurance that the dog was in good health. Doesn’t want to be compensated for expenses, let alone get into a legal thing. It would just be about telling the authorities to have a record for the dog.
Do dogs that bite get second chances? I just realllly don’t want to be responsible for a call that results in an automatic put to sleep order.

[scierra]

Dog /animal bites are usually mandatory reported by the treating Doctor. From what I remember it has to be reported to the state health department. It isn’t a mandatory death sentence for the dog. Quarantine most likely, in house if vaccinated.

If the doctor didn’t report it I would. I have very little patience with dogs that bite, or owners who have them and put others in danger. Your mom needs to follow up to make sure the dog was vaxxed and healthy. The dog owner needs to realize there are consequences for his actions of having a dog that bites not under his control. I’m not saying sue him, but make sure he is aware that worse things could happen. If it’s not reported the next time it might be a lot worse and someone could get a severe bite. By making sure there is a report you might stop this happening to someone else. If nothing else call animal control and ask about protocol on dog bites in your area.

[bdj]

[QUOTE=MissMilly;8612605]

Do dogs that bite get second chances? I just realllly don’t want to be responsible for a call that results in an automatic put to sleep order.[/QUOTE]

Depends. If MIL is in PA, here’s a link to the PA Dept of Ag’s Dog Law Enforcement page: http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Protect/DogLaw/Dangerous%20Dogs/Pages/default.aspx#.Vwf9ZYhOKrU
Hope that helps you decide, but if I were in your situation, OP, I would report it - if it was a one time thing for the dog, it will put the owner on notice that they are responsible for the dog’s behavior at all times, and if (and I hope this isn’t the case) the dog is truly a bad actor, and has a bite history - it sucks, but it is what it is, and it’s neither you nor your MIL’s fault - it’s the dog owner’s.

[ASBJumper]

[QUOTE=MissMilly;8612605]

Do dogs that bite get second chances? I just realllly don’t want to be responsible for a call that results in an automatic put to sleep order.[/QUOTE]

What if NOT calling means you’re responsible for the next time the dog lunges and bites? What if the next time it’s a toddler and the dog mangles her little face?

I have a ZERO bite tolerance policy - especially in cases where it’s totally unprovoked. Second chances be damned. Little kids who get mauled don’t get second chances at having a normal face/life.

[MissMilly]

I was having trouble tracking down the vaccine verification based on the limited info the guy shared with my mother in law, so I called the health department. They did an incredibly fast investigation (I guess they take these things seriously!) and already got back to MIL that they verified vaccine info and all is well on that account.
That closes the story for us.
And yes, after consideration it was the right thing to do to report it. My toddler was actually bit by a family dog so once I started thinking of that I knew I had to call. Thanks all for weighing in.

[toady123]

I’m glad you did what you did. I think it was important to ensure MIL’s health.

[BuddyRoo]

Really think that was a wise move OP.

I held off sharing this story because I’m not proud of it at all. As I mentioned, I’ve been bitten a few times working in vet med, but always knew the critters were vaccinated. Never reported those.

But a couple of years ago, I was riding down the road on my mare and a dog ran out aggressively. I spun my mare to face the dog and she backed up a bit and took a misstep into the ditch and injured herself as the dog pursued us. She hasn’t been the same since.

I did not call it in because the dog was a PB and there’s so much drama around that and well, we didn’t get bitten, dog just wasn’t contained, right?

No. Within a week, a woman and her dog were walking past. Dog attacked both. Luckily, my BO’s SO is a veterinarian and they were able to patch the pup up and the woman was okay too. But the other dog had to be destroyed. Pretty sure it wasn’t vaccinated either.

So my point is that people who have dogs who bit or attack and aren’t on top of it shouldn’t get a pass. Accidents happen. I get that. But when it happens twice, it’s no accident anymore, is it? It’s a pattern. And you don’t know when it happens the first time and if it’s not reported, there was no first time.

[khall]

Glad the bite was reported, all bites should be. It is not always a death sentence nor should it be. The nature of your mother’s bite though would be much more concerning than some bites (both my DH and I have been bitten by personal dogs while breaking up a dog fight).

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=Sugarwells;8612528]
Let it go.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely not!!! What if it’s a child next time? My technician several years ago was mauled in front of me. By an unvaccinated dog when she asked it to sit. It later came to light that the dog was a very well known biter, but all the neighbors had been “too nice” about it. Until it escalated. It was surrendered to the shelter where it was immediately destroyed after going after multiple employees.

And I am so *** sick of doctors like the one the OP’s mom saw blatantly ignoring their mandatory reporting responsibility. I’d report the doctor to the licensing board and maybe then they’ll stop ignoring this critical public health issue

[pezk]

Since your MIL is in her 80s, I assume she has Medicare or private ins? I don’t know how Medicare works but I do know, from experience, that private ins would be hounding your MIL for all the details- where did the bite occur, whose property, name of owner and store etc etc. Since she went to urgent care for treatment, ins must be involved. Ins wants someone else to pay the bill. So your MIL may not be interested in sueing anyone, but her ins might be interested in recovering the expense.
Personally, I’d want to know the dogs vaccination history. But if there was proof of vaccination, I’d let it go.

[JanM]

MissMilly-It was absolutely right to report the bite. As others said, this might be the first bite from that dog, but it might not be. This animal now has a bite history, and the owner has been put on notice.

Nothing was your MIL’s fault, or yours for reporting. I’m glad the animal’s vaccination history was found, and hope you MIL recovers quickly.