Avoiding A Dog Bite
Avoiding a dog bite might not be on everyone’s agenda throughout the day, but once you or your child is bitten, it becomes a lot more relevant in your mind. Here’s some tips to help you never have to experience the potential vital consequences of a dog bite.
If you see a dog sleeping, eating, chewing on it’s favorite toy, or caring for its pups, don’t bother it. Don’t pet a dog unless he/she can see and sniff you first, even then, that can be risky. Always assume that a dog assumes you are a threat or intruder. Pay attention to the body language of a dog as well. There are tell-tale signs that a dog is angered and/or potentially dangerous:
- Intense stare
- Backing away
- Flicking tongue
- Yawning
- Furrowed brow
- Eyres rolled so the white are visible
- Pulled back ears or head
- Stiff tail
- Tensed body
Perhaps some of those are obvious to you but it’s always important to judge every dog on a case-by-case basis. Even if a dog is wagging it’s tail and appears happy doesn’t mean that it won’t be overly aggressive with children. Sometimes a happy playful moment can turn into a rough and painful one if a dog gets too excited or riled up.
If you think that a dog will attack then follow these steps to avoid potential harm:
- Don’t run away or scream
- Stay motionless, avoid eye contact, and keep your hands down
- Once the dog has appeared to lose interest, back away slowly
- If the dog bolts at you, put something between it and you (jacket, purse, bike, etc)
- If you fall on the ground, curl into a ball with your hands protecting your ears/head and try not to move. If a dog bites you and you scream and squirm around, it could consider it a challenge and continue biting and pulling.
If you do get bitten by a dog, don’t panic but DO these following things:
- Wash the wound with soap and water
- Contact the doctor for additional care if needed (stitches, infection)
- Report the bite to local animal control
- Get a lawyer if damage is severe
It’s one thing to be the victim of a dog bite and one to be the owner responsible for his/her dog biting someone else. Check out these tips on how to stop your dog from biting other people. If you are ever badly injured from a dog bite and seek restitution, don’t hesitate to come see our dog bite attorneys who serve Salt Lake City at Handy and Handy today.