By Amanda St. John

MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue, claim 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 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.

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