I've been taking Marley and Kula to a play group for smaller dogs every week to try and get Marley's confidence up with other dogs and with strangers. Each week has gotten better and better, with her progressing from hiding behind me and between my legs the entire first day, to actually initiating play with some of the other dogs yesterday, and approaching the other owners without crouching down and peeing.
Well, I guess it was all going TOO well, because I was bitten on the hand by another dog yesterday (I think he's a French Bulldog). I've been able to pet, interact with and give treats to this dog for the past three weeks. He has never shown any aggression towards me AT ALL. He does get snippy with some of the other dogs...part of the reason that he's there. His owners have been working SO hard with him. He's been at this group every week for the past YEAR. Last week he was even able to come off of his leash and was playing ball with the other dogs.
Yesterday he came in a little while after all of the rest of us (he's usually there first). He came in, was getting settled, and I went over to him to say Hi, just like I do every week. I gave him a treat, he took it fine, then tried to bite me. He got very, very close to my face and almost got my hand. No warning growl, nothing, just went for me. He was taken out of the room immediately, and kept out for about 20 minutes or so. When he came back in the room, he seemed much calmer, even letting Marley come nose to nose with him, something that he usually does not tolerate from other dogs. He'd been there about 10 minutes or so, no problems, so stupid me figures I'd try again. This time I didn't get away, and he got a pretty good bite on my right thumb. Again, no warning, he took a treat from me, ate it, let me pet him, then bit.
I ended up having to go to Urgent Care (of course it happens on a weekend), because the gash on one side is pretty deep and wouldn't stop bleeding. I just wanted to make sure that it got cleaned out and stitched, if necessary...they did x-rays, put me on prophylactic antibiotics, the whole shebang. TWO HOURS!! No big deal for ME, but they filled out a report on the bite, and faxed it over to Animal Control. Now I KNOW this dog has had all of his shots (you have to provide proof of vacs to have your dog in the group), so I knew I didn't need rabies shots, but they have to verify or give me the shot just in case.
8:00 this morning Animal Control is is calling me, wanting to set up a time to interview me. They also went over to interview the owner. I feel so bad!! She is so upset about what happened, totally willing to pay all of my medical expenses and very apologetic. Animal Control assured me that nothing would happen to the dog, he would just need to be "confined" for 10 days (stays with the owner, can't be out of his yard without a leash), but I can't help feeling guilty. I'm not hurt that badly and I know I was totally stupid to go back over to the dog. Part of me feels like I did the right thing in reporting it (I would be absolutely devastated if he bit someone else later on and I hadn't said anything), but part of me also feels like I should have just cleaned up the bite at home and only gone to the doctor if I had complications. I would honestly HATE to see anything happen to this dog...I just keep going back and forth wondering if I did the right thing
You did the right thing. When in doubt about an injury you have to go and have it treated. I honestly don't think animal control will do anything but confine the dog for 10 days as long as the owner can produce his up-to-date shot records, especially since you aren't filing a complaint. The hospital under law had to report the bite.
It sounds as though his owners have some additional work they need to do. With the reactions he is having I think they would be smart to limit his freedom until the problem is resolved. The next person might not be so understanding.
Years ago one of my dogs bit a young guy when he was trying to break up a dog fight between his dog and mine. My dog was leashed, his wasn't. Although the bite wasn't real serious it did require medical attention and my dog was reported to animal control. They did a quick interview with me but that was the end of it.
Kula, I think you did the right thing as well. Even good people can own an agressive dog. No one is immune to that.
I'm sure they feel just as bad as you do about the whole thing and they would more than likely do the same thing if they were in that situation.
They are fortunate that it happened to someone who 'knew' their dog and didn't call the first attorney they could get their hands on.
I think there is a good lesson to be learned by both parties involved in this. Glad to hear you weren't hurt any worse than you were. Imagine if he would have gotten your face or a child who has softer, more easy to tear skin!
I hope you will keep us updated on this. I'd like to know if this causes the folks to shy away from the dog park now or if it will make them work more intensely to solve the problem.
Don't feel bad for doing what you did. Even though the dog was up to date on shots, other bacteria could have entered your blood stream from his teeth/saliva/etc. You never know what a dogs mouth has been on before it gets to you. You have to take care of YOU first.
