When your Dog Bites
So what to do if your dog bites someone? Let's run through the steps:
Stay calm and get control
Keep your dog secured by his leash and stay calm. In the next few minutes, every reaction you have can make or break the outcome of the situation. Do not punish your dog or scare him further - he is already beyond his threshold and has proven it by biting. No one should touch the dog until you are at home. Keep other people and dogs away from your dog until the situation is under control and you have returned home. Take a few deep breaths calm yourself before you take further action.
Apologize and offer to help
Speak to the victim and get information about the injury - is there a puncture or broken skin? If it is life-threatening, call 911. If it is not, advise the person to seek medical attention right away. Exchange information and a heart-felt apology. They will need your information and you should at least know their name. Offer to pay for their medical expenses relating to the bite. This one step may put you in a better light and even save you from a lawsuit; kindess goes a long way.
Talk to witnesses
This is very important. Speak with anyone who witnessed the incident and ask for their contact information in case you need to call on them down the road. Do not try to convince them of what happened, one way or another; they will have seen whatever they saw and you need to make this short and sweet. Keep in mind that some people may not want to get involved, and they may not want to give out their contact information. Do not pressure them - it is not their responsibility.
Go home and contact your insurance company
You may want to contact your insurance company as some companies will cover dog bites on home policies. Do not open a claim until you have sought legal advise. Simply as the "hypothetical question" when you call your broker. If your policy does not cover bites or you do not wish to open a claim, leave this step out.
Contact your Vet and Trainer
This is a good time to contact your Veterinarian and inform them of the incident; they may want to follow up with a check-up and bloodwork to ensure the dog is not ill or in pain (which can cause dogs to act aggressively). Next, speak with your Trainer and inform them as well. You may want to set up a session to discuss the trigger for this incident or an assessment in order to find out what may have happened to cause this. Listen to what your Vet and Trainer have to say; it may not be what you want to hear, but listen anyways as they are objective and knowledgeable.
Seek legal advice
This step may seem far-fetched, but it is always best to be fully prepared. You may receive a call from the following:- Public Health
- Police
- Animal Control
If that is the case, you will want your lawyer walking you through every step of the way to ensure your pet does not pay dearly.
You may be required to put your dog in quarantine until the investigation is complete, or you may be required to muzzle your dog when he is out in public - if so, do not dispute it; simply work with your trainer in order to properly desensitize your dog to a muzzle as sometimes they can increase a dog's stress and anxiety. Take responsibility and follow instructions until the muzzle-order is lifted. Do not take the chance of being caught without it and having further charges against you.
Love your dog
Lastly, love your dog just the same as you did the day before. This does not mean your dog is "aggressive" or that he is "bad" - he was pushed past a threshold that caused him to aggress in the moment and the moment has passed. Do not punish your dog - that will make the situation worse and he is likely feeling your stress already. Treat him the same as you did yesterday but put a few new rules in place in order to regain control of the situation and help yourself feel more in control:- hand-feed every meal in order to control the most important resource
- practice basic training cues (sit, down, come, leave it, look, etc...)
- do not allow your dog on the furniture for now - let him earn access again over time
- ensure his basic needs are met daily (food, water, sleep, potty, exercise)
- avoid highly populated areas and dog parks until the matter is resolved
- avoid any and all stressful situations as he may be feeling "edgy"
Remember to try to stay calm and think positive. Be proactive and educate yourself through the experts around you. Do not discuss the incident with aquaintances at the park and do not set your dog up in the same situation until you have worked with your trainer. Everyone will have an opinion but stick with the true experts - your vet, trainer and lawyer. Hope for a bright outcome and prepare for the worst - just like any other situation.
Be realistic. Some bite incidents will require the dog to be euthanized if the court finds that the risk for a second bite incident is high. Sometimes this is the only humane option though it may not be what we want for our beloved pets. Cross each bridge as you come to it and try to remain calm and in control. You can't change the past but you can certainly control your actions and reactions in the present.
Date: March 5th, 2011
Author: Caryn Charlie Liles
Copyright, Whatta Pup!
This article is the author’s opinion and for information purposes only. This information should not be taken as legal advice or relied upon in any way. Consult with a lawyer prior to taking any action.
