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

[MoniqueU]

I am sorry that happened to you and your friend is not being more caring.
I had a similar experience where out of the blue my weimie bit my son on the arm so hard it left bruising for 2 weeks. We have people in and out of our house on a daily basis and I had to think of their safety and the chance of having my dog put down because of his aggression. I don't like to share about it because some on this board are so into it must be the way the animal is raised and that simply is not true, we babied that dog just like we do our labs. He was just wild and aggressive and all the training we tried didnt work. Some people just can't admit their dogs have poor temperments. Just like some people are born with poor temperments some pets are too. I remember that mom who left her son with those dogs in the house in san francisco and despite the warning signs her dogs were aggressive she still couldnt belive they killed her son, they were so gentle.

 

[Mishetta]

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.

Well, I'm not a 'sue' happy person either but if this has cost you anything out of pocket, I would just send her a bill. It does sound like she's gotten very defensive suddenly. I totally agree with you too about not letting your DD go over there again either! What a nightmare that must have been!

 

[RitaZ.]

Thanks all for the good wishes! I'm feeling My arm looks and feels bad; between the bite and the shot, I can barely lift it. Whenever DH comes near me, I say, "Not the arm, don't touch the arm!" I'm going to take some more Tylenol and apply some ice.

I'll be calling Animal Control in the morning.

 

[Ranatra]

So sorry this happened to you.
I had a very similiar experience some years back. We were invited to dinner by close friend of DH's. He had recently gotten married and we hadn't met his new wife. (They eloped) They live about an hour and a half away. To make a long story short, I was sitting on the couch next to DH and their Doberman (which we were instructed not to pet) came over to me, sniffed my hand and bit me. I hadn't done a thing to this dog! What upset me even more than this dog biting my hand (no blood, just bruising) was the reaction of the new wife. She promptly called the dog up onto the couch with her while talking softly to him and hugging and petting him, saying all the while, awww, he was just scared. HE was scared??? What about me??
She never apologized and she refused to put the dog in the basement even after her husband told her to. We left very soon after that and we've not gotten together with this couple again, though DH does talk to him on the phone once in a while.
Since when is a dog more important than the safety of a guest in your home??

 

[RitaZ.]

Sandi, that was so wrong!

Since when is a dog more important than the safety of a guest in your home??

Unfortunately, I think that happens a lot more than we like to think.

 

[YourMajesty]

Ouch...I have always read that animal bites (especially deep puncture wounds) are very dangerous and sometimes hard to treat. I'm so glad you went to the ER for the tetnas and antibiotics. I'm sorry your arm is hurting...it sounds painful. Hopefully something will be done about this dog. Just reading all these post made me think about what would happen to someone if this dog bites again...especially if he were to get someones neck. Take care.

 

[RitaZ.]

Well, I called Animal Control. An officer came to my home to take a report. He will be going to the owner's house to get more information on the dog's history. It turns out that the dog's rabies shots are NOT up to date. Even if a dog gets a 3 year shot, it still needs a yearly booster. The owners will be fined $55. The officer said that while the probability of getting rabies is small, I should get the shots. I'm waiting to hear from the health department on what I should do regarding the rabies shot.

This has been one lousy week, I hope it doesn't get any worse.

 

[luvwinnie]

So sorry this happened to you.
I had a very similiar experience some years back. We were invited to dinner by close friend of DH's. He had recently gotten married and we hadn't met his new wife. (They eloped) They live about an hour and a half away. To make a long story short, I was sitting on the couch next to DH and their Doberman (which we were instructed not to pet) came over to me, sniffed my hand and bit me. I hadn't done a thing to this dog! What upset me even more than this dog biting my hand (no blood, just bruising) was the reaction of the new wife. She promptly called the dog up onto the couch with her while talking softly to him and hugging and petting him, saying all the while, awww, he was just scared. HE was scared??? What about me??
She never apologized and she refused to put the dog in the basement even after her husband told her to. We left very soon after that and we've not gotten together with this couple again, though DH does talk to him on the phone once in a while.
Since when is a dog more important than the safety of a guest in your home??

So she REWARDED him for biting you basically???? WOW.

 

[Talking Hands]

Sorry you are going through all this. Has she offered to pay for your doctors bills. She really should. Unfortuanately I don't think her homeowners insurance will pay of she has Citizen's. It doesn't cover dog bites. Not sure on independent insurance companies.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I am so sorry you are going through this. Best of luck with everything.

We are in the process of getting rid of our dog because she bit my DH (twice now) completely unprovoked. Apparently, she's gotten overly possessive of me. We are getting rid of her for this precise reason!! I'd feel horrible if she ever bit my DD or someone else.

 

[SamIAm21]

Oh Rita, so sorry for all this. Rabie shots, oh my gosh! Sounds scary!

I have a friend with a Doberman who bit their 3 y/o son and they said it wasn't the dog's fault, the little boy was screaming and crying and it provoked the dog. Can you imagine taking a dog's side over your child? I thought she was nuts then and I still do now. The last time I saw her, I had to stop by her house to drop something off. When she answered the door, the dog lunged at me and I nearly fainted right there on the spot. I told her right then, I will never step foot on this property again. Never ever! We had been friends all the way through high school...

I am glad you called AC and I hope you heal up fast. You certainly don't deserve this type of treatment from her. Had that been my dog, I'd be bending over backward, doing your laundry, shopping and cooking. I'd be mortified and horrified.

 

[Nana Annie]

Good for you for calling animal control

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh my gosh Rita, I am so sorry! How awful for you! I can believe that that idiot woman was letting her dog bite her! Her concern for her dog would be heart-warming if she actually had took the time to care for it. German Shepards need to know who is boss or they will try to control you. I speak from experience, my maxie was my baby, but boy if you didn't let her know you were the boss, the stuff she would try to get away with.

I think you should nicely ask you neighbors about the medical bills and if that doesn't work, ask not so nicely. And keep an eye on that arm. Did you see your own doctor, or just an emergency care doctor? It doesn't hurt to have someone else give you another look just to be safe. Take care!

 

[gris gris]

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.

This is how I am with our dog, he's a 90 pound pit/sharpei mix. I know he isn't properly socialized with people or other animals. So, I tend to not have people over that he doesn't know. He's never bitten before, but I'm very cautious about it anyhow.

I'm sorry you were bitten by a dog that has bitten before, your friend is not a very responsible pet owner. In our area if a dog bites they get quarantined. If it's a repeat biter, you don't normally get your dog back.

 

[RitaZ.]

double post

 

[RitaZ.]

Some states still have the yearly law on the books, although it is not necessary medically. The dog should have had a booster after his initial puppy shots, but after that, the every three year is sufficient.

He told me that the 3 year vaccine has just recently been recognized as an option, but that a yearly booster is still necessary. He looked at the copy of the shots that I have and he said that he needed to find out more info from the owners. The dog has only had one rabies shot and from what the officer said it was a puppy shot, nothing else after that. He is going to call me back once he goes over the house and speaks to the owners.

I heard from the heath department a few minutes ago and was told that the dog has to be quarantined for 10 days. The fact that we know where the dog is located is reassuring. If the dog was a stray, then they would definitely recommend the rabies shots. So, I just have to wait and see what happens with the dog. I'm feeling a lot better after hearing that. I always have a reaction to tetanus shots, this time was no exception. I don't even want to think about having to get rabies shots.

The mom did ask DH if she had to pay for the medical costs. We are taking care of it ourselves, but if she insists on paying, then she can do so.

 

[Nana Annie]

 

[RitaZ.]

Nana~ I just heard from the humane officer and he confirmed that the dog isn't up to date on its shots. That intial shot given in 2003 was not a 3 year shot (we were hoping) and the dog hasn't had any additional rabies shots after that. However, this entire time the mom insisted that the shots were up to date.

 

[Mishetta]

Probably a dumb question but I've never owned a dog, can't they test the dog for Rabies rather than subjecting YOU to rabies shots? Is that something that can be 'tested?' Sorry, don't know...

Rita, this is truly a nightmare! I still stand by my belief that once this is all over & you add up your out of pocket expenses, I would send them the bill.

 

[RitaZ.]

Rose, I asked about that. The only way to test for rabies is when the dog is dead.