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Does Your Dog Bite? How to Protect Your Dog and Yourself from Liability
By Amanda St. John
MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue claims that dogs bite more than 4.7 million
people every year in the United States.
The blame could be the dog’s, the owner’s, or the victim’s. But the one who invariably pays is the
owner. The owner of the dog becomes responsible for paying for the medical bills, time lost from
work as well as pain and suffering. The one who suffers most is the dog that is abandoned in a
shelter or disposed of.
Dog owners should assume more than their share of the responsibility for protecting people and
other animals from their dogs and also assume the responsibility to protect their dogs from people.
Kids will run up to a dog screaming in delight and frighten the dog. A dog in his excitement to greet
someone may jump up and scratch him or her. A passer-by may approach a dog aggressively or
provoke him. Neighborhood kids may let the dogs out just to have some fun.
There is no way to guarantee that your dog will never bite someone. But you can significantly
reduce the risk:
• Spay or neuter your dog. This important and routine procedure will reduce your dog's desire to
roam and fight with other dogs, making safe confinement an easier task. Spayed or neutered dogs
are much less likely to bite.
• Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so that he
or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.
• Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is an excellent way to socialize him
and to learn proper training techniques. Training your dog is a family matter. Every member of your
household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog's education. Never
send your dog away to be trained; only you can teach your dog how to behave in your home. Note
that training classes are a great investment even for experienced dog caregivers.
• Be alert with your dog is around children. Rambunctious play may startle your dog and he may
react by snapping or biting. Neighborhood children may be attracted to your dog, so make sure
you have a child-proof lock on your gate and there is no way for little hands to get through the
fence.
• Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Never teach your dog to chase after or attack others, even
in fun. Your dog can't always understand the difference between play and real-life situations. Set
appropriate limits for your dog's behavior.
Don't wait for an accident.
The first time he exhibits dangerous behavior toward any person, seek professional help from your
veterinarian, an animal behaviorist, or a qualified dog trainer. Dangerous behavior toward other
animals may eventually lead to dangerous behavior toward people and is also a reason to seek
professional help.
• Be a responsible dog owner. License your dog as required by law and provide regular veterinary
care, including rabies vaccinations. For everyone's safety, don't allow your dog to roam alone.
Make your dog a member of your family. Dogs who spend a great deal of time alone in the
backyard or tied on a chain often become dangerous. Dogs who are well socialized and supervised
are much less likely to bite.
• Stay on the safe side. If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If
your dog may panic in crowds, leave him at home. If your dog overreacts to visitors or delivery or
service personnel, keep him in another room. Work with professionals to help your dog become
accustomed to these and other situations. Until you are confident of his behavior, however, avoid
stressful settings.
I thought you said your dog doesn't bite? "That's not my dog" ... says Peter Sellers.
Seriously, if your dog bites someone, act responsibly; take these steps to mitigate the harm:
• Confine your dog immediately and check on the victim's condition. If necessary, seek medical help.
• Provide the victim with important information, such as the date of your dog's last rabies
vaccination.
• You should cooperate fully with the animal control official responsible for acquiring information
about your dog. If your dog must be quarantined for any length of time, ask whether he may be
confined within your home or at your veterinarian's hospital. Strictly follow quarantine requirements
for your dog.
• Seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again. Consult with your veterinarian, who
may refer you to an animal behaviorist or a dog trainer. Your community animal care and control
agency or humane society may also offer helpful services.
If you have to let your dog go, don't drop him off at a shelter, where he will only be given a few days
to live. Take the time to find him a new family. To do this there is a support and training network
called MuttShack, at http://www.Muttshack.org, who will teach you how to re-home your pet.
• If your dog's dangerous behavior cannot be controlled and you have to make the painful decision
to give him up, do not give him to someone else without carefully evaluating that person's ability to
protect your dog and prevent him from biting. Because you know your dog is dangerous, you may
be held liable for any damage he does even when he is given to someone else.
• Never give your dog to someone who wants a dangerous dog. "Mean" dogs are often forced to
live miserable, isolated lives, and become even more likely to attack someone in the future. If you
must give up your dog due to dangerous behavior, consult with your veterinarian and with your
local animal care and control agency or humane society about your options. Be safe, be
responsible and most importantly, teach your dog to be a good canine citizen.
• Your dog lives to make you happy. If he understands what you need from him, he will make you
proud.
About Muttshack:
Muttshack Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit, a project of the National Heritage Foundation,
established in 1968. MuttShack Foster and Animal Rescue promotes the education and creation of
foster homes for abandoned and abused animals.
Muttshackers rescue animals from shelters, rehabilitate and nurture them to health in homes
(MuttShacks) and find them quality, permanent new families.
By intervening and rescuing shelter animals about to be put to sleep, MuttShack fostering stops the
senseless killing of healthy animals in overcrowded shelters.
Donations Saves Lives. Visit animals online who are in danger of being put to sleep at http://www.
muttshack.org. Join us in preventing animals from entering shelters that kill. Support Muttshack
Animal Foster and Rescue Foundation, at http://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?
EventUUID=B47421FD.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
By Amanda St. John
MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue claims that dogs bite more than 4.7 million
people every year in the United States.
The blame could be the dog’s, the owner’s, or the victim’s. But the one who invariably pays is the
owner. The owner of the dog becomes responsible for paying for the medical bills, time lost from
work as well as pain and suffering. The one who suffers most is the dog that is abandoned in a
shelter or disposed of.
Dog owners should assume more than their share of the responsibility for protecting people and
other animals from their dogs and also assume the responsibility to protect their dogs from people.
Kids will run up to a dog screaming in delight and frighten the dog. A dog in his excitement to greet
someone may jump up and scratch him or her. A passer-by may approach a dog aggressively or
provoke him. Neighborhood kids may let the dogs out just to have some fun.
There is no way to guarantee that your dog will never bite someone. But you can significantly
reduce the risk:
• Spay or neuter your dog. This important and routine procedure will reduce your dog's desire to
roam and fight with other dogs, making safe confinement an easier task. Spayed or neutered dogs
are much less likely to bite.
• Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so that he
or she is not nervous or frightened under normal social circumstances.
• Train your dog. Accompanying your dog to a training class is an excellent way to socialize him
and to learn proper training techniques. Training your dog is a family matter. Every member of your
household should learn the training techniques and participate in your dog's education. Never
send your dog away to be trained; only you can teach your dog how to behave in your home. Note
that training classes are a great investment even for experienced dog caregivers.
• Be alert with your dog is around children. Rambunctious play may startle your dog and he may
react by snapping or biting. Neighborhood children may be attracted to your dog, so make sure
you have a child-proof lock on your gate and there is no way for little hands to get through the
fence.
• Teach your dog appropriate behavior. Never teach your dog to chase after or attack others, even
in fun. Your dog can't always understand the difference between play and real-life situations. Set
appropriate limits for your dog's behavior.
Don't wait for an accident.
The first time he exhibits dangerous behavior toward any person, seek professional help from your
veterinarian, an animal behaviorist, or a qualified dog trainer. Dangerous behavior toward other
animals may eventually lead to dangerous behavior toward people and is also a reason to seek
professional help.
• Be a responsible dog owner. License your dog as required by law and provide regular veterinary
care, including rabies vaccinations. For everyone's safety, don't allow your dog to roam alone.
Make your dog a member of your family. Dogs who spend a great deal of time alone in the
backyard or tied on a chain often become dangerous. Dogs who are well socialized and supervised
are much less likely to bite.
• Stay on the safe side. If you don't know how your dog will react to a new situation, be cautious. If
your dog may panic in crowds, leave him at home. If your dog overreacts to visitors or delivery or
service personnel, keep him in another room. Work with professionals to help your dog become
accustomed to these and other situations. Until you are confident of his behavior, however, avoid
stressful settings.
I thought you said your dog doesn't bite? "That's not my dog" ... says Peter Sellers.
Seriously, if your dog bites someone, act responsibly; take these steps to mitigate the harm:
• Confine your dog immediately and check on the victim's condition. If necessary, seek medical help.
• Provide the victim with important information, such as the date of your dog's last rabies
vaccination.
• You should cooperate fully with the animal control official responsible for acquiring information
about your dog. If your dog must be quarantined for any length of time, ask whether he may be
confined within your home or at your veterinarian's hospital. Strictly follow quarantine requirements
for your dog.
• Seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again. Consult with your veterinarian, who
may refer you to an animal behaviorist or a dog trainer. Your community animal care and control
agency or humane society may also offer helpful services.
If you have to let your dog go, don't drop him off at a shelter, where he will only be given a few days
to live. Take the time to find him a new family. To do this there is a support and training network
called MuttShack, at http://www.Muttshack.org, who will teach you how to re-home your pet.
• If your dog's dangerous behavior cannot be controlled and you have to make the painful decision
to give him up, do not give him to someone else without carefully evaluating that person's ability to
protect your dog and prevent him from biting. Because you know your dog is dangerous, you may
be held liable for any damage he does even when he is given to someone else.
• Never give your dog to someone who wants a dangerous dog. "Mean" dogs are often forced to
live miserable, isolated lives, and become even more likely to attack someone in the future. If you
must give up your dog due to dangerous behavior, consult with your veterinarian and with your
local animal care and control agency or humane society about your options. Be safe, be
responsible and most importantly, teach your dog to be a good canine citizen.
• Your dog lives to make you happy. If he understands what you need from him, he will make you
proud.
About Muttshack:
Muttshack Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit, a project of the National Heritage Foundation,
established in 1968. MuttShack Foster and Animal Rescue promotes the education and creation of
foster homes for abandoned and abused animals.
Muttshackers rescue animals from shelters, rehabilitate and nurture them to health in homes
(MuttShacks) and find them quality, permanent new families.
By intervening and rescuing shelter animals about to be put to sleep, MuttShack fostering stops the
senseless killing of healthy animals in overcrowded shelters.
Donations Saves Lives. Visit animals online who are in danger of being put to sleep at http://www.
muttshack.org. Join us in preventing animals from entering shelters that kill. Support Muttshack
Animal Foster and Rescue Foundation, at http://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?
EventUUID=B47421FD.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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