One of the reasons that you might get a dog for your home is to protect your family. When you introduce a dog to its new surroundings, you need to make it aware that there are people who are alright to be inside the home and those who you should be alerted about. Even with the smallest dog that seems to want to sit on the couch all day, there is a potential of it biting someone. If this happens, there are a few things that you should do to protect yourself, the pet and the other person involved.
The first thing that you need to gather is the dog's rabies vaccination record and records of any other vaccinations that the dog has received. In some states, if a dog has not had a rabies vaccination and bites someone, then the dog will have to be quarantined for a few days to ensure that there isn't any illness that has been transferred. You also need to present proof of ownership of the dog or paperwork that shows that the dog is your responsibility in the event that the victim wants to pursue some kind of compensation for medical bills.
As soon as you see that your dog has bit someone, you need to get medical help for the victim. It might be a simple bite that barely breaks the skin, but you need to get the wound cleaned and patched so that it heals properly. It's sometimes best to go ahead and pay for the office visit or any other medical treatment that is received. You could also talk to a personal injury attorney, such as one from Clearfield & Kofsky, in the future in the way of compensating for pain and suffering for the victim.
At times, a dog will bite someone as a way to defend you. They feel threatened or feel that you are being threatened, biting being a way to ward off the intruder. You need to leave the area as soon as possible or go inside the home. If the victim is one who was trying to break inside the home or who was not wanted in the home, then you need to be prepared to explain the reasoning and even show a no trespassing sign outside the house. File a police report to show that you felt threatened as this can indicate that the dog sensed danger.
There are times when people claim that the dog is someone else's, but this only leads to more trouble in your future. It's best to go ahead and admit that the dog is yours so that the proper paperwork can be completed and the process of putting the situation to rest can begin. Plus, saying that your dog isn’t yours could get your dog put into a shelter. Be truthful, but only give the basic details unless asked for specifics.
The last thing that you want is for your dog to bite someone. It can sometimes show that you're not a good dog owner in the eyes of someone else. However, there are times when the dog is protecting you and doing its job. Maintain your cool while dealing with the situation so that everyone comes out in a good demeanor in the end.
Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.