The large black Labrador meandered slowly down a Delmar street, much to my client’s dismay. She froze and held on to the leash, aware that at any moment her own dog would see the dog on the loose and goes into a barking frenzy.
We stepped back, turned around, and worked to maintain trust and purpose so his dog wouldn’t react negatively. Meanwhile, the Laboratory, oblivious to the cars stopping to let him pass, moved away.
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A little Cairn Terrier stumbled into the busy street, stop traffic in both directions on the main road out of Brunswick. Her necklace had no tag indicating where she lived, or even a phone number. Eventually her owner was found after carrying her up and down the road, stopping at each house to ask if anyone recognized her.
Stray dogs Abandoned, homeless dogs, or as the incident describes above, dogs running loose without their owners, are a growing problem across the country. According to some reports, more than 500,000 dogs are lost or abandoned every month across the country, even more so during an economic downturn. Some are reunited with their owners, others are picked up by animal control authorities, some are hit by cars and killed, and some become feral. However, all can pose a threat to humans and to our leashed family dogs.
On average, each year, approximately 800,000 people are injured by dogs seriously enough to require medical treatment.. Wide estimates indicate that about 10 to 12 percent of dog bites involve stray dogs. However, there are no statistics on the number of leashed dogs attacked, bitten or killed by loose dogs, and unfortunately we hear about these events every day.
A client told me about walking her Maltese on a leash on a suburban sidewalk. A loose Boxer mix ran towards them, barking furiously and attacking his little dog. At one point the biggest dog grasped his dog’s ear. The owner screamed as she tried to pick up her dog. A passerby managed to grab the stray animal’s back legs and pull it away, although his dog needed seven stitches in his ear. traumatized by the incident.
We all know that it is the responsibility of dog owners to care for, train and care for their canine companions, but we also know that this doesn’t always happen. When I was little, it was common to let our dogs out without accompanying them. Nobody had invisible fences. Leash laws and ordinances regarding picking up droppings were relatively unknown. The times have changedsure, but I suspect there are still many dog owners who remember the good old days and let their dogs roam at will.
So what should we do if we encounter a stray dog while out for a walk? Our attention to our surroundings and our intellect are our best defenses to avoid an incident with a stray dog..
Never approach a stray dog. Stray animals are usually hungry, thirsty, sometimes injured – and almost always scared. They could also carry diseases. There are too many unknowns with a stray dog; it’s just not worth it. Even with your knowledge or love of dogs, avoid stray dogs. A wagging tail does not mean the dog is safe to pet. Your best bet is to call your local animal control officer and report the stray dog.
Walk consciously. Even in familiar surroundings, scan the area, both near and far. This level of awareness does not take away from the joy of your walk. You may see things you didn’t notice before. It’s always best to know who and what is around you. Stray dogs can approach very quickly, often from behind trash cans or from the woods. Additionally, for various security reasons, always bring a cell phone with you.
Seek a safe haven. If you see a stray dog approaching from a distance, look for a safe place. Enter a fenced area, enter a place of business, or knock on a neighbor’s door. It is always better to be safe than to risk a potentially dangerous encounter.
Bring food to distract yourself. I disagree with those who believe that pepper spray (or any other non-lethal spray) is an appropriate defense measure. This doesn’t always work and can make the situation worse, especially in the hands of an inexperienced person. Take treats or a pouch full of kibble with you is a much better option. Since stray dogs are almost always hungry, you can use food to distract the dog’s attention. Throw away the food further and further away from you so the dog concentrates on the food while you retreat to a safe place. Kibble works particularly well because the dog will dig around to find each piece.
If it is not possible to do any of these things, or if a stray animal approaches you by surprise, follow these guidelines to protect yourself:
Don’t try to run. Stay still. Hold your arms close to you and don’t move. Keep your eyes focused downward and observe the stray animal with your peripheral vision. Don’t look at the dog. He might interpret this as a threat. Let the dog sniff you if he wants, but don’t reach out as this can be interpreted as a threat. When the dog leaves, don’t turn your back on him. Back away slowly so you can keep an eye on the dog.
If you have been knocked down by a dog, do not get up and run. Roll into a ball. Cover your face and head with your arms, keep your legs together and bring your knees toward your chest. Do not get up or move until the dog has left.
Overcome your instinctive urge to run. In more than 90% of cases, dogs exhibit aggressive behavior, it is a reaction based on fear. Your goal is to eliminate a perceived threat or remove an attack opportunity. If you run, there is a good chance the dog will chase you and attack you. If you stand still, he will probably sniff you and move on.
Once the dog leaves, call your area’s animal control authorities. You have every right to do so. Do not hesitate, lest your neighbor appreciate your intervention. There are leash laws that requires all dogs to be leashed unless accompanied and under the full control of their owner or another person responsible for the dog’s actions.
Maybe the dog got loose by mistake – and you know you’d want someone to alert you if it was your dog – to keep it out of harm’s way.. By doing so, you will give the dog the best chance of survival by getting him off the street to a safe location and, hopefully, reuniting him with his owner.