The concern over rabies is one thing, but from the sound of it your MIL is lucky she didn’t get knocked over and break a hip. At 80+ that can be fatal.
This is why I avoid big box pet stores like the plague, well this and the creepy dog clothes. If you insist on shopping with your dog, it should have (good) manners.
[QUOTE=red mares;8613154]
The concern over rabies is one thing, but from the sound of it your MIL is lucky she didn’t get knocked over and break a hip. At 80+ that can be fatal.
This is why I avoid big box pet stores like the plague, well this and the creepy dog clothes. If you insist on shopping with your dog, it should have (good) manners.[/QUOTE]
I got tied up and knocked down in a Petsmart a few years ago by someone’s dog on one of those damned retractable leashes. I hit the ground hard with a 40# bag of dogfood. Pet owner did not seem to even notice. Nor did the staff. I think that most dogs should not be in public. Their owner simply don’t pay attention and consider the impact to other people!
Meh - Let it go! It isn’t worth your trouble.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8613373]
Meh - Let it go! It isn’t worth your trouble.[/QUOTE]
Never let a dog bite go without reporting it. Read the other posts here. There’s a chance this isn’t the first bite from the dog and it should be documented. I would also contact animal control on what their protocol is on dog bites.
Dogs that are unstable in a public setting should not be out in public. My breeds of choice are what I consider at risk breeds, Dobes, Rotts, Mastiff breeds and now I have a Pit mix. I’m probably overly protective of my dogs. I do take them out in public, but I take that as a huge responsibility and make sure they are socialized to the max. If, and that’s a big if, they ever bit anyone I would be the first one to make sure it was documented, or my dog euthed depending on circumstances of the bite, and they would never be out in public with me again other than to the vet because there is no way for me get around that. And you better believe I would have a muzzle with me and let anyone handling them to know the history. I have no tolerance for aggressive dogs.
I wouldn’t let it go. The next person that the dog bites may not be so lucky. I knew a kid that lost an eye because of a dog with a known biting history. Is a dogs life really worth more than a kid having a disfigured face and a glass eye? I agree about never letting a dog bite go without reporting it.
Good job reporting it. Bites should be taken seriously.
[QUOTE=scierra;8613636]
Never let a dog bite go without reporting it. Read the other posts here. There’s a chance this isn’t the first bite from the dog and it should be documented. I would also contact animal control on what their protocol is on dog bites.
Dogs that are unstable in a public setting should not be out in public. My breeds of choice are what I consider at risk breeds, Dobes, Rotts, Mastiff breeds and now I have a Pit mix. I’m probably overly protective of my dogs. I do take them out in public, but I take that as a huge responsibility and make sure they are socialized to the max. If, and that’s a big if, they ever bit anyone I would be the first one to make sure it was documented, or my dog euthed depending on circumstances of the bite, and they would never be out in public with me again other than to the vet because there is no way for me get around that. And you better believe I would have a muzzle with me and let anyone handling them to know the history. I have no tolerance for aggressive dogs.[/QUOTE]
I strongly disagree, especially after years of working in humane societies and vet clinics. Reporting a bite - does nothing, other then put a dog on a bite confinement (which is useless) and then by the time the 10 days are up - all you have is a stir-crazy dog.
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8615297]
I strongly disagree, especially after years of working in humane societies and vet clinics. Reporting a bite - does nothing, other then put a dog on a bite confinement (which is useless) and then by the time the 10 days are up - all you have is a stir-crazy dog.
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/[/QUOTE]
Good Gravy!
Ace the damn dog then.
A friend was attacked, at her own mail box.
The healing process is ongoing, for several weekends, repeat trips to the doctor, to drain the punctures, utilizing a pump, no less.
Bite confinement sometimes needs to be in a cooler on the way to the lab!
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8615297]
I strongly disagree, especially after years of working in humane societies and vet clinics. Reporting a bite - does nothing, other then put a dog on a bite confinement (which is useless) and then by the time the 10 days are up - all you have is a stir-crazy dog.
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/[/QUOTE]
I know the bite statistics. I know about dog behavior. I know the legalities of having an unstable dog, aggressive or unmanaged dog. I have done my time in the trenches at a very large open door shelter and with rescue. A dog that bites is not alway kenneled for the bite, if it has been vaccinated it usually can be quarantined at home. If the dog bites once it should be on the radar of animal control. It very well could be an owner problem, but it could also be just an a$$hole aggressive dog with a bad owner. But it needs to be out of the public and not allowed to be a danger to anyone. I understand there are a lot of different circumstances that cause dogs to bite. I don’t feel all dogs who bite should be euthanized. But is the law in most areas for any bite, no matter how insignificant it may seem to be reported. Reporting a bite just might save someone else a trip to the ER.
There is very little, in the dog world, that I hate more are the owners who say the dog doesn’t bite, it just nipped someone. I’ve seen the consequences of that. The next “nip” need multiple stitches. If the first so called nip had been reported maybe the owner would have learned a lesson and controlled their dog better. Plus the dog might not have ended up in the cooler waiting for a trip to the landfill.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8615297]
I strongly disagree, especially after years of working in humane societies and vet clinics. Reporting a bite - does nothing, other then put a dog on a bite confinement (which is useless) and then by the time the 10 days are up - all you have is a stir-crazy dog.
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/[/QUOTE]
Seriously? We had a client’s dog attack one of our vet techs when she walked into the waiting room to get them for their appt. Dog slipped out of it’s collar and bit the tech on her leg multiple times. Her pants were torn in several places. Owner was useless and just stood there and watched. One of the receptionists jumped out from behind the desk and literally laid on the dog to immobilize it so the tech could get away and so other staff could capture it. Oh yeah, it was in the clinic for a bite exam as it had attacked the UPS man. The owner never told us that when she made the appt.
I’m not clear if the people saying “let it go” seriously mean “do nothing.” Call me paranoid, but if a dog bites me, you better believe I’m finding out if that sucker is UTD on a rabies shot. I have no desire to get anyone else’s dog put to sleep, but I’m also not interested in not knowing if I’ve contracted a virus that will kill me without intervention.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8615297]
I strongly disagree, especially after years of working in humane societies and vet clinics. Reporting a bite - does nothing, other then put a dog on a bite confinement (which is useless) and then by the time the 10 days are up - all you have is a stir-crazy dog.
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/[/QUOTE]
Really? After a decade in vet med I completely disagree with you. However! A bite in a vets office is generally not considered towards a dogs “record” unless it’s like the pervious poster when the dog attacks unprovoked. Most bites in vet med are a result of us doing something painful/scary to the dog. Do I think they should bite over it? No, but it’s a lot different than walking through a store and a dog lunging up to bite you. A dog who attacks/bites completely unprovoked should absolutely be reported. The owners need a wake up call at least, that Fluffy needs to be under control out in public or stay home.
[QUOTE=Casey09;8612552]
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.[/QUOTE]
Really? I’ve been around dogs over 60 years including dobermins and GSDs. Number of bites zero nil nada. It’s called training, used to be in vogue, but has fallen out of style. It’s been replaced by this odd concept that we should expect companion animals to do bodily harm. I guess just call me old fashioned but I have no intention of ever allowing a dog to consider people to be on the menu.
[QUOTE=Paks;8616046]
Really? I’ve been around dogs over 60 years including dobermins and GSDs. Number of bites zero nil nada. It’s called training, used to be in vogue, but has fallen out of style. It’s been replaced by this odd concept that we should expect companion animals to do bodily harm. I guess just call me old fashioned but I have no intention of ever allowing a dog to consider people to be on the menu.[/QUOTE]
I haven’t either, but it was a trainer - and an old fashioned trainer - who told me that years ago. The only real incidents I’ve had were once in a training class, another person’s dog snapped at me during an exercise. There was no contact, and she went on to show the dog. Another time a friend’s tiny dog grabbed my pant leg. Again,there was no skin contact so I didn’t even need to check on the rabies vaccine. I know I’m at risk, though, because I’m around dogs and you just never know. Hopefully we can avoid serious bites but you truly never know. I’ve known people who have been bitten after the dog suffered strokes, brain tumors, etc.
I don’t think we should expect companion animals to do bodily harm, but we should be aware that they can. That isn’t to say that the woman in this case wasn’t - it sounds like an unprovoked bite. Hopefully it will heal without farther incident.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8615297]
I suggest you look into the reason dogs bite, it is rarely a dogs fault.
https://positively.com/victorias-blog/the-dog-aggression-epidemic/
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/why-growling-is-good/[/QUOTE]
If I were bitten, or my family bitten, or a family member knocked down and injured by a dog attempting to go after another dog, I really don’t give flying fig about any of the things you listed.
If you have an under-exercised, poorly trained, unsocialized dog and take it out in public, expect to deal with the consequences. Not reporting a dog bite from an untrained dog doesn’t magically train the dog not to bite.
Even if poor training, lack of exercise, and lack of dog behavior understanding is to blame, SO???
In the end you still have a dog that is out in public and bites a person on their way to attacking the dog in the person’s hands.
No matter the excuse, it should be reported so the owner can have some time to consider their stupidity and there is a record of the dog biting. Not to mention the health concerns.
I say report it. I don’t take my dog out to public places often because people think their cute little fluffy kins to snap at someone.
A couple months ago I was at the pet store getting a dog tag. I was away from the register but “near” the exit. there was plenty of room for someone to leave without coming anywhere near me or my dog. Some twat with a young dog on one of those stupid retractable leashes came up to the register and let her dog wander willy nilly on that stupid leash. Low and behold while I was typing away on the screen she let her dog come right up to my dog and my dog did not take kindly to the space invasion and snap at her dog. Scared the bejeezes out of me and the other dog.
Other dog escaped unharmed but if I did not have a short hold on my leather leash it might not have ended well.
Meh! Why do we expect dogs to NEVER bite? I can’t think of any other animal that we place this restriction on. It is a bit unrealistic. As long as the dog is not actually mauling, then I personally wouldn’t worry about. We out so much pressure on dogs, but we never stop and think. Why did this dog bite?
The dog is current on rabies? Go on your way. I wouldn’t worry about. If you actually think a bite confinement or reporting is going to stop a dog from (potentially) biting someone else - then you have no idea how the system works.
I’m glad OP reported it. It is very unusual for a dog to be seized and euthanized as the result of a bite report. It is so rare, it basically never happens. What does happen is that the owners of the attacking dog are cited and fined for various minor offenses like lacking a rabies vaccination and dog at large - and will sometimes surrender the dog for euthanization in return for those being dropped. If the attack was particularly nasty, and if someone presses the local politicians very hard, and if all the stars align and if an angel chorus gets involved, then the attacking dog is, very, very rarely, officially designated as a dangerous dog. As an example of how rare, the city of Philadelphia has basically 35 dogs on its dangerous list; how likely is it that this is an accurate representation of the total number of dangerous dogs in the nation’s 6th largest city, which has a massive dogfighting problem? Bottom line - don’t worry about a simple bite report causing a beloved dog to be ripped from his loving owner’s home and brutally executed - it just doesn’t happen that way.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8617123]
Meh! Why do we expect dogs to NEVER bite? I can’t think of any other animal that we place this restriction on.[/QUOTE]
That’s an interesting statement on a horse forum. How many times have I heard that a biting horse is too dangerous to tolerate?
If you know how the system works, you wouldn’t so concerned about the OP reporting. The system, with regards to violent dogs, does not work. Anyone with the immorality to lie, deny and defy can almost always keep their dog, no matter how violent the attack or how reckless their behavior. When they lose them, it’s almost always because 1) they surrendered them voluntarily or 2) they behaved so badly that a judge completely lost patience with them.
[QUOTE=MustangSavvy;8613373]
Meh - Let it go! It isn’t worth your trouble.[/QUOTE]
What is it with these “let it go” comments? You get bit by a strange dog and you “let it go?”
You report it and seek medical care. And if it were MY Mom and she developed complications, I’d “let it go” all right- straight to litigation.
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