Perhaps one of the biggest nightmares of a dog owner is if your dog bites someone –whether it’s you or a total stranger in the park. The most important thing to know if this happens is to stay calm and not to panic.
Banfield Pet Hospital gives us a few tips on what to do if you find yourself in this unpleasant situation.
There are many different places this unfortunate circumstance can occur. If your dog bites a person while you are outside walking your pet, the first thing you should do is to regain control of your dog. Then, make sure you provide your contact information to the victim and get his/hers as well. Obtain the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the incident.
If your dog bites someone in your home, immediately place your dog in a crate or a secure room. Take note ahead of the nearest urgent-care facility, in case the victim will need professional medical assistance. Offer to call 911 if necessary. Stock emergency first-aid kits with bandages and antiseptic skin cleanser that can be useful for providing first aid in this kind of situation.
After you have done the aforementioned steps, the next step you should do is to contact your local animal control office and inform them of the incident. This may be very difficult for you, but they may instruct you to take additional action and it’s important that you comply. These measures may vary depending on the county, so you will need to contact the appropriate agency in your community.
If you do not have your dog’s medical records on-hand, you should get them from your vet as soon as possible. This is because you will need proof of your dog’s current rabies vaccination.
Since these things often occur out of the blue, prevention is always better than cure. Enroll your dog in obedience training and make sure he gets those anti-rabies shots.