Dog bites are fairly uncommon, but they do occur from time to time. While most dog bites are caused by behavior that is seen as threatening on the part of the victim, some are completely unprovoked. If you notice a dog that appears to be overly aggressive, avoid eye contact, and slowly walk away. It will usually lose interest in you pretty quickly. One thing to remember is that if you see the dog has a bark collar, you should be pretty well off. If the dog attacks, however, here’s what you should do.
1. Fight Off the Animal
If a dog suddenly rushes in to bite you, there is no other option but to fight it off. You must look out for your own well-being first, so do the best that you can to keep the dog away from your head and neck area. Try to keep the attacking hound at a distance by kicking it with your feet. If you have an object such as a backpack or purse on you, use it to distract the dog so that it bites the item instead of a body part. If there is a stick, stone, or other object nearby, grab it to defend yourself. Remember to call for help as you’re keeping the angry dog at bay.
2. Bandage Your Wounds
After fighting off the dog successfully, immediately tend to any wounds you may have suffered. Fierce, powerful dogs such as Bull Terriers and Rottweilers can cause severe damage with their sharp teeth and powerful jaws. If you have large, open gashes, try to bandage them up as soon as you can to stop the bleeding. Wrap a t-shirt or whatever you have on hand tightly around the wound, and yell for assistance if you need it.
3. Seek Medical Attention
Some dog bites are pretty minor and only require a few stitches, but severe bites can cause excessive bleeding and may be fatal without emergency medical care. In either case, check yourself into the nearest hospital. Even if you don’t think that you need medical attention because the wound itself isn’t bad, dog bites still transmit harmful bacteria that can cause a bunch of other complications, so always get checked out by a professional.
4. Seek Legal Counsel
In many cases, dog attacks are the result of owner negligence. If a dog attacked you because the owner was reckless, you may be entitled to financial compensation if evidence can be found after an investigation. Hire an attorney such as the Law Offices of Savin & Bursk to see what can be done for you.
Dogs are often friendly creatures, but they can get very aggressive in some circumstances. A belligerent dog can ambush you when you least expect it. If you ever get bitten by a dog, take the above steps to keep yourself safe and to get things sorted out after the fact.