The day started off like just like every other. Jane woke up early and headed out for her morning walk with her dog. Jake, an 8-year-old Chow Lab mix, walked with his owner by her side, off leash. Jane knew it was against the law to have Jake off leash but he never left her side. Her friends warned her that he could get hit by a car or attacked by a coyote, but she believed Jake was invincible.
The dog on the corner was also known for regularly being allowed to run off leash. His owner would open up the door and the shepherd mix would roam the neighborhood menacing the other pets and kids on the block. Animal control was called about this dog multiple times, but the dog was always back home when they arrived.
The very moment the shepherd was let out of his front door that summer morning, Jane and Jake were walking by. The two dogs immediately got into a scuffle. Jane panicked and screamed causing the dogs to go into more of a frenzy. Since she didn’t have Jake on a leash, she had nothing to pull on. She proceeded to place her hands in between them to try to break them apart. Unfortunately, the dogs redirected and bit her. The shepherd’s owner came out, retrieved his dog and immediately called the ambulance to help Jane.
When animal control arrived they followed procedure, ensuring Jane was attended to and documenting the bite. All bite reports get forwarded to the health department for tracking purposes and to follow up on rabies control. Luckily, both dogs were current on their vaccinations, which gave the doctor knowledge on how to treat Jane’s injuries. If there were no vaccines then the treatment protocol would have been a lot more extensive. Both dogs were put on a ten-day quarantine at the humane society to observe their continued health. The dogs were released back to their owners when the quarantine was over with a misdemeanor violation for having a dog off leash.
Almost four million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States. While most bites are not serious, the fear and trauma that occurs when bitten changes the lives of victims forever. It also causes stress on dog owners who are now facing legal challenges and the dogs whose fate is not always clear.
All breeds of dogs, both big and small, have the potential to bite. Dog bites can often be avoided by following laws and knowing how to read canine body language. Dogs will almost always tell you in advance how they are feeling, so you can take steps to avoid being bitten.
Consider the following when interacting with any dog:
• Dogs speak through their body language. Indications that a dog does not want you to approach or touch them include a tucked or high stiff tail, ears back or forward, hackles up, showing the whites of their eyes, barring teeth or growling, licking lips, and avoiding eye contact.
• Children should be taught how to approach animals and should always be supervised. Asking permission of the owner and the dog is key to a great interaction. Grabbing a dog’s tail or ears, crowding the dog, or hugging a dog can make a situation turn dangerous quickly.
• Never run or scream when being approached by an unknown dog. This behavior often escalates a situation and elevates something that should be minor to a more serious level. Stand very still with arms to the ground and back away slowly. Always walk with something that you can place between you and an animal if possible.
• Don’t get in the middle of a dog fight as an animal can accidently redirect and bite you instead of the dog. If a fight occurs, create a distraction with noise. If you do get bit by an animal, you must report it to your local animal control organization. If you live in the cities of Altadena, Arcadia, Bradbury, Glendale, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Monrovia, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre or South Pasadena that animal control agency is the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. You can call them 24 hours a day at 626-792-7151. In case of an emergency, dial 911.
Julie Bank is the President of the Pasadena Humane Society. Her column runs weekly in the Pasadena Star-News and the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. She can be reached at jbank@pasadenahumane.org.