It can happen any day. You and your pooch decide that you want to go for a walk. It might be a Sunday stroll with the family with your dog at a local park. Then suddenly you are in the fight of your life. Some dog which seemingly was under the control of another owner – or perhaps off leash in a leash only dog park- has turned from sniffing to attacking your dog. You are traumatized and then if you can intervene, you may be injured as well as your dog. What can you do?
Let’s take a real life example. One day last fall in the sleepy town of Tiburon, California, a family went walking along the Bay with their Husky. They were relaxed, enjoying the ambiance of the fresh air, scenery and the experience of togetherness. As they were strolling along past another dog owner who had a large German Shepherd in tow, mayhem ensued. The German Shepherd injured the Husky requiring veterinarian assistance and a hefty veterinary bill. The effects of this incident did not end there but filtered into the community. The owners of the Husky took appropriate action and contacted the Marin Humane Society. The matter was given a hearing and the owner published the results of that hearing in a local newspaper. What are the steps you can take if this happens to you?
First you need to obtain the name and phone number of the party whose pet injured your dog. If they refuse, try to get another party to help you either obtain a photo or track down who they are. Also, ask for witnesses names and phone numbers who may have witnessed the attack.
Second, take your pet to a 24 emergency vet or your own vet and seek immediate veterinary care for your pet. You do not know if the other pet is current on vaccinations. If you have a blanket in the car, you may want to wrap your dog in it to prevent shock.
Third, report the incident to your local humane society. Each humane society has procedures to implement and they may also have a record of other bad behavior by this pet. Ask the humane society for a hearing to determine what the offending animal and owner will be required to do to make restitution. In some instances, the offending pet owner and pet will be required to go through dog training prior to being released to go back into the community.
Four, never assume that a dog approaching your pet is friendly. You need to watch the cues from both the pets and the other owner and be watchful that your pet is neither an aggressor or victim. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to be vigilant regarding their own pet at any dog park. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash at all times when the law requires it.
Finally, determine whether or not you would like to pursue a legal course of action against the other pet owner. You will need witnesses, evidence of the injuries, receipts and of course, keep a written journal of not only the expense, but if it the incident requires you to take time off of work or incur other expenses to deal with the injury.
In the Tiburon case, a hearing at the Marin Humane Society determined that the animal was deemed a PDA or “potentially dangerous animal” after listening to the parties. A PDA is essentially a warning, and not as a severe a determination as PDV or “potentially vicious animal”. It puts the community on notice that this dog can be dangerous. Animals often reflect or mirror the emotions of the owner. It was made apparent at the hearing that the owner was going through a divorce and often had left the animal alone for hours. The humane society determined that both the owner and the pet needed to complete a dog rehabilitation training.
Keep in mind when walking your dog that you need to be alert and aware, even in a leashed dog park. Just because the owner has the dog on a leash, does not mean that the dog is under the owner’s control.
