What Should You Do If Your Dog Bites A Stranger?
No matter how you treat an animal like a dog, they will always have an independent streak. Some pets are much easier to train than others, but most professional trainers would agree that there are very few methods that result in absolute obedience. Of course, this can cause some challenges when you take your pooch out into the big wide world, with strangers being hard for your dog to distinguish from a threat. But did you know that you are liable for all the medical bills in case of dog attacks? You can find out more and learn more about what you need to avoid in case you are a dog owner. So, what should you do if your dog ever bites someone when you’re out and about? Let’s find out.
Talk To Them
This sort of event can often be quite emotive, with the person who has been hurt likely to be feeling angry or fear in the aftermath. This is completely reasonable, but you may have emotions of your own that you need to keep in check to make sure that the situation doesn’t get worse. You should talk to the victim with a measured tone, working hard to be diplomatic so that you can try to find a solution to the problem that doesn’t involve legal action. This sort of conversation doesn’t have to involve a negotiation, though, and you should be careful to make sure that you don’t end up being blackmailed in the process.
Gather Witnesses
Scenarios that lead to dog bites are rarely simple, and it would be wrong to say that the dog or their own is always at fault. If someone goes to stroke your dog without asking, for example, it is much more reasonable to expect a bite. It’s always a good idea to gather witnesses for the bite, even if you are concerned that you are at fault. This will help you to gather a clearer picture of the whole event, while also giving you potential evidence to use if you need to fight for your dog. People can be good witnesses, but CCTV and dashcams are often more reliable when they are taken to court.
Prepare For A Fight
Some people will happily brush off a minor dog bite, while others will want to fight until they get their perceived justice. This can mean that they will contact a personal injury attorney today to get compensation for the bite, though it can also mean that they will take more direct action against your dog. In cases like this, dog owners often have to work extremely hard to prove that their animal is safe for society, with muzzles often being forced on animals when they bite people. In other instances, dogs have also been put down when they have bitten someone, though this is usually reserved for the most serious cases.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of dealing with this sort of scenario. Of course, as time goes on, you will get to know your dog better and better, and it should only become easier to avoid putting them into positions that will make them likely to bite.
