A news anchor, during a report, was bit by a dog that the anchor had not met before. The owner was present and holding the canine when the dog bite occurred.
The lessons learned from this situation could be important to dog owners and lovers in Philadelphia. Experts were brought on to shows across the nation to address the bite and determine what could have been done to prevent it. Some suggested that owners should always have control of their dogs. Others said that people should not put their faces near those of a pit bull.
According to reports, the dog that bit the newswoman was not a pit bull. By referring to similar dog breeds as one umbrella term, the violent stereotype of the pit bull is being reinforced. This is not fair to the breed and it hurts the image of the breed on a regular basis.
According to one expert, all dog breeds exhibit this violent type of behavior, and all of them give warning signs.
The expert then went on to say that a dog in this situation has four choices: submission, avoidance, flight and fight. The dog attempted to avoid the situation by pulling away and could not flee because its owner was holding the dog by the collar. Some dogs, if acclimated to this sort of situation, will submit and allow the situation to play itself out.
But no matter the circumstances, if someone is injured from being bitten by a dog that does not belong to them, they may have the right to hold the owner accountable for any injuries.
Source: Alabama's 13, "Dog bites in the news and how to protect yourself around animals," Ashley Roberts, Feb. 25, 2012
No Comments
Leave a comment