I was bitten by a dog...(update pg.#2)

[RitaZ.]

when I took my DD to her friend's house. The dog is a white german shepherd and literally jumped on me while I was sitting down.

My DD and her friend were playing in the living room and when the dog was allowed out of a bedroom, he ran straight for me in another room. We don't have any pets right now, so there was no scent of another animal on me. Thankfully, I turned to the side when the dog jumped on me and it bit my upper arm. The dog didn't tear or rip my flesh, but his sank his teeth into my arm, it was NOT a good sensation. My arm is swollen, painful and bruised. I went to the ER where I had a tetanus shot and a strong antibiotic shot in the posterior; something called Ancef (I think). I handle medical procedures well, but the medicine from that injection caused me so much pain that I almost passed out. Anyway, I'm really sore today. The bite hurts, but the tetanus shot site is really really sore, I always have a reaction to those shots.

I have known the mom for 2 years and I must say that I'm very disappointed with her reaction. My DH called her when we got home from the hospital, her request, and the focus of the conversation was her dog. Today, she called me and, again, the focus of the conversation was the dog. She said something about me sitting in her DH's chair and I had my feet in the spot where the dog sleeps. I guess I did all the "wrong" things. A warning would have been nice! She assured me that the dog has never done anything like that before. When I told her that I'm taking antibiotics for 14 days and had a strong antibiotic shot yesterday, she asked if my family is prone to infection. I told her that this was the course of action prescribed by the doctor, as in protocol for an animal bite. She then said that the dog has bit her many times, even left scars on her forearms, and she never needed antibiotics. Remember, he has never bitten anyone before. Again, I'm upset over her reaction.

Despite all that, I'm sooooo glad that the dog bit me and not my DD. I don't even want to think about what could have happened.

 

[FreshTressa]

That is so unsafe. you are human and should be able to sit anywhere in the house.

I'm glad you are okay...sorry you are in pain, but it could have been sooo much worse.

Wow....will you ever let your daughter over there again??

 

[RitaZ.]

Wow....will you ever let your daughter over there again??

Thanks.

The answer to your question is: a huge NO!

 

[Nana Annie]

 

[RitaZ.]

I hope you reported this incident to Animal Control. The ER should have reported it, but if they did not, you should. It could be a child the next time.

I haven't yet, I was hoping the doctor would do it. I got a copy of the dog's shots, last rabies shot was in 2003. The doctor said that he wasn't concerned about rabies, but was more concerned about the possibility of infection. Anyway, he looked at the dog's records and just gave them back to me. Looks like I'm going to have to be the bad guy.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yikes! I know that hurt! That's a sensitive area.

I got bit too, many years ago by a german shepard. (On the side of my leg.) Out of the blue. They quarantined the dog. I had to get a shot and I think the medical personnel made a call to animal control and that's how the dog was put under quarantine.

I didn't think you'd let your DD back there.
I can't believe the reaction of the owner. All the concern over the dog and none for you and what you had to go through? And the dog never bit, but when he DID bite her she didn't have to get antibx?

I'd be about done with them. For real.

 

[disneynutt1225]

How frighteningly bizarre. The dog just went for you because you were sitting in her DH's chair?? That makes no sense to me at all! There's something more to that dog's story, IMO. Toby has never attempted to bite anyone unless he's been backed into a corner or he's in pain. For that dog to just come out of nowhere at you like that is setting off warning bells in my head!

And I for one would never let my kids (if I had any, LOL) set foot in that house again - you never know what could happen next time! How scary! It's unfortunate that you're going to have to be the "bad guy" and call AC. But, better safe than sorry, IMO. Next time it might not be an adult that is "fortunate" enough to get bit by that dog.

 

[MAKmom]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Shepard are so territorial some are no good around people outside their own family & a 1 owner dog. Never let your child over there.

 

[Lorix2]

This subject always gets me fuming from experience myself

First off, I'm sorry you were bitten and to endure this pain and I'm thankful also that you're DD was not harmed.

I absolutely hate when pet owners automatically assume YOU did something to provoke the behavior in the dog...it's an animal, it has instincts and can be unpredictable, I don't care how well you think you know your pet.

My DD was 5 y/o on Christmas day when my inlaws dog lunged for my daughter biting her on the top of the head right to her skull. got her on top and on the side of her ear. if her head hadn't been down already, it would have been her throat. Same situation as yours, the dog was let out of a bedroom and just went for her while she was standing next to her aunt. It lept onto the couch and came down on her.

My inlaws were shocked, never followed us to the hospital, didn't call us for 4 days because they cared more about the dam dog than their own grandchild. In my case, the ER notified the police, I did not, but my inlaws knew what this meant for the dog and decided to be spiteful. My SIL admitted to me weeks later that the dog had been biting THEM! I was never told, but we had suspicions of the dog and asked for it to be kept away from the kids, but my MIL couldn't wait to let it out to show everyone and this is what happened. I watched idol and helplessly while this dog took her to the floor and when I lunged for it, someone else grabbed the dog back while I scooped her up while she bled profusely from her head while wearing her beautiful Christmas dress. Needless to say my DH and I had it out with the inlaws about the lack of concern for our daughter and the dog was put to sleep, not by insistance, but by their own conscience. It was bound to happen again. My response to them was "this dog could have KILLED her!" and theirs was "yes, but it didn't"

Sorry for the rant, even 8 yrs later it's a fresh wound for me (no pun intended).

I hope you're feeling better real soon and that you're DD will not be around that animal again to chance.

 

[floridafam]

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

 

[mylilnikita]

I am so sorry about what happened to you. I have a white german shepard 5 months old and a husky/rot mix who is 7. Your friend's dog has not been properly socialized with people and not to mention not properly trained. If your friend's dog is biting her, she is not the alpha dog and she needs to getrid of that dog and not get another one. Since you have known her, has she always kept the dog separted from people?- I am going to make a new thread about something that happened to me today. I wasn't going to, but apparently today was national stupid dog owners day. I hope everything turns out all right with you.

 

[RitaZ.]

Lorix~ OMG! I can't even imagine what it must have been like seeing your little girl being attacked by a dog. For your IL's to react the way the did.

I think this isn't the first time the dog has bitten a person. DH thinks this shows a lack of training/discipline on the owner's part. First, the mom says that it has never done anything like this, but then tells me that he has bitten her many times. What's the deal there?

I assure you guys, I did nothing to provoke the dog. I was just sitting in the chair, quite relaxed, and the next thing I know there is this huge dog jumping on me, then I felt his teeth sink into my upper arm. BTW, I had a short sleeve shirt, which the doctor thought helped to protect my arm. It all happened so fast, all I know is that the dog is white and big, but I couldn't give you any other details about it.

The girls can still be friends, her DD can come over to play, but my DD will not go to their house again. Of couse, that may all change when I call Animal Control.

 

[eclectics]

So sorry you had to go through all that. Some dog owners mystify me sometimes. Your friends reaction to the bite her dog inflicted is not so out of the ordinary. Hope everything works out. Another reason to own cats!

 

[RitaZ.]

Your friend's dog has not been properly socialized with people and not to mention not properly trained. Since you have known her, has she always kept the dog separted from people?

That was my thought too. The dog hasn't had enough exposure to strangers. DH thinks is a lack of training/discipline. Like you said, it's probably a combination of the two.

This was only our second time going to their house. The first time was for a party and the dog was kept in a bedroom the entire time. This time was the first time that DD was invited over to play at her house. I'm sooooo glad that I stuck around for a little while before deciding to leave DD. I just keep thinking about what could have happened to DD if I had just dropped her off, it could have been DD instead of me.

 

[Mishetta]

HI Rita! Oh I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you!! Yes, I would be very upset too! Don't hesitate to call Animal control & if you don't want to do it, I'll do it for you, just PM me with the details I'll need to relay to them! Honestly, as you say, it could have been your DD! Did you just take her home after that? Did your DD's Mom seem concerned as soon as it happened? I mean, did she take the dog away or what? Geez...some people!

I hope you feel better soon. I'm so sorry that happened.

 

[RitaZ.]

Did you just take her home after that?

Rose, I certainly did.

The mom pulled the dog off me. She thought he had only jumped on me, then I told her that the dog had bitten me. Then, she became really upset and was surprised that I had held it together and didn't freak out. I must say, she was very kind to me in her house right after it happened. She applied ice to the bite, anti-bacterial cream and a bandage. Her tone has changed since, she appears to be more intent in trying to find a reason for the dog's attack. She asked if she had to pay for anything, her exact words. I'm thinking that she is concerned about being sued over what happened, which I have no intention of doing.

 

[snowwite]

This sounds like a dangerous animal. I would notify the proper authorities.I would also insist she pay for the medical bills incurred because of her animal, even if it meant getting a lawyer. She sounds like an irresponsible owner if she is not accepting responsibility for her pet's actions.So sorry you were bit.Ouch!

 

[texasthree]

Isnt it funny that the owners reaction to the situation is really worse than the dog bite? I strangly had the same thing happen to me, our neighbors dog bite me in my own yard while I was holding my toddler son. I mean broke skin 4 inch by 4 inch nasty bruise and all. That crazy women actually said, "well when you first moved in your dogs would bark at my kids." Okay, my dogs are in a fenced in yard (mainly they are in the house but go out to potty) and yes they barked at the kids for about a month because the kids "play fight" with sticks etc and the dogs werent use to that and it upset them. I would go out and tell them to stop and that it was okay and a few weeks later it stopped. Anyways, I called the police. I also went to the hospital and got a tetnus shot and antibiotics. The idiot womens husband came over to apoligize later that day and I flatly told him to fix his fence and keep the dog in it or I would call the police every single time I saw that dog anywhere. It was not going to bite my son.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very sorry to hear that, Rita. With having Doc here, a 150 pound Rottweiler, we are always conscious, even though he has always proved to be a nice dog, what he could do. We are always cautious when people are over, oftentimes putting him away while visitors are over, just to play safe. Hope you are feeling all well soon.

 

[Talking Hands]

I haven't yet, I was hoping the doctor would do it. I got a copy of the dog's shots, last rabies shot was in 2003. The doctor said that he wasn't concerned about rabies, but was more concerned about the possibility of infection. Anyway, he looked at the dog's records and just gave them back to me. Looks like I'm going to have to be the bad guy.

Reporting the dog is not being a bad guy. A dog that bites is a danger to everyone including anyone living in that house. While I love my daughter's dog dearly and she is a doll if she ever bit someone she would be put down. It is not worth the risk.