Dog Bites

In September, a Monroe man, after receiving a complaint of a dog bite from a customer at the storage facility in which he worked, approached the vehicle of the dog’s owner.  Though accounts of the incident differ, there is no question that the man was bitten by the dog.  He cleaned and wrapped the wound, and visited his doctor the next day, but by the time of his appointment, his left leg was already numb due to a blood clot.  He died seven days later from a bacterial infection that he received from the dog bite. 

Each day, over 1,000 U.S. citizens require emergency treatment for dog bite injury. One out of every six victims is so seriously injured, they require medical attention. 

The combination of pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, and their mixes are responsible for :

80% of attacks that induce bodily harm

70% of attacks to children

83% of attack to adults

69% of attacks that result in fatalities

75% that result in maiming 

These dog breeds pose such a threat many cities throughout Washington as well as the rest of the country have banned them.

Unfortunately, children are the victims of the majority of dog attacks; many of those occurring when a child is visiting the home of a relative, or when a dog is new to the child’s home.    

So, how do you prevent your child from getting bit? 

First of all, recognize these potentially dangerous situations:

• Leaving an infant or toddler alone with any dog breed
• "New" situations involving children and aggressive dog breeds
• Approaching a chained dog, especially if it is male and unaltered
• Encountering a group of loose dogs. Like the human "mob" mentality, normally obedient dogs often become violent when part of a pack
• Inserting yourself into a dogfight, especially when pit bulls are involved
• Approaching a vehicle with a dog inside (or in the bed of a truck)
• And don’t think your child is safe around the family pet.  Half of all dog bite injuries to children come from the family dog.

Here are some safety tips to avoid a dog attack:

• Let a dog see you before petting him
• Do not lean your face close to a dog
• Do not tease a dog, especially if it is chained
• Don’t startle a sleeping dog
• Leave a dog in peace while eating. Don’t bother him.
• Do not disturb a dog that is caring for puppies
• Always ask permission to pet a person's dog.

If a dog looks as if it will attack or does attack:

• Never scream and run, keep still. Running may trigger the instinct to chase you
• Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog, drop your eyes even and turn slightly to the side. 
• Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until he is out of sight. Never turn your back on an aggressive dog.
• If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything you can find to put between  yourself and the dog
• Talk firmly to the dog. Try giving it a command and loudly. If the owner's nearby, they may hear you
• If you fall or are knocked to the ground, Tuck and cover. Roll up into a ball protecting your abdominal area and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around Place your hands behind your neck and use your elbows to protect your face.

If you’re a dog owner, here are some good rules to follow to ensure your dog doesn’t injure or kill someone:

1. Spay or neuter your dog.  According to the CDC, 70% of all dog bite cases involve unsterilized male dogs and 97% of fatal dog attacks (in 2006) were carried out by dogs that weren't sterilized. So to avoid your dog attacking, Spay/Neuter them, the younger they are when this is done, the better.
2. Socialize your dog.  At an early age, introduce your dog to community parks, family and friends, and other animals, and take it for walks. The more socialized your dog is, the less chance it will feel threatened in new experiences.  
3. Exercise your dog.  All dogs require exercise, powerful breeds require more, both physical and mental. If they don’t get exercise, they may become restless and, destructive or dangerous behavior may result.
4. Train your dog.  Obedience training is good for the owner as well as the dog. Lack of obedience training ensures a frustrating experience for the dog owner and a dangerous one for the community.
5. Constrain your dog.  Don’t mistake chaining for constraining. A Denver study revealed that chained dogs were 3 times more likely to bite than unchained dogs, and dogs with a history of long-term chaining made up 20% of attacks that resulted in fatalities.
6. When walking your dog.  Do not walk a dog that is more powerful than you and do not allow children or teenagers to walk them either. Also, never, ever use a retractable leash when walking a powerful dog.

Here at MBC we see dog bite injuries more often than we’d like.  Don’t make the mistake of assuming a dog is trained or gentle.  Any dog has the possibility of becoming a dangerous dog under certain circumstances.

Sources:

My Northwest.com

Q13 Fox News

Dogsbite

LA Times

Local Animal Control Agencies:

Tacoma

Lakewood

University Place