Husband attacked by a Great Dane while jogging

[Kathy Hoppe]

Last night my husband went for a jog like he has been doing for the last 10 years. He listens to his ipod while running. He didn't even see a dog playing in a empty field across the road with his owner. All of a sudden this 19 month old Great Dane starts running across the street and bits into my husbans left arm. My husband tried to get his arm back as the owner came running over yelling to his dog. Long story short my husband ended up with 27 stiches and the bit wound was 9 1/2 inches long 2 inches wide! His whole forearm was open. Went down to the bone... Police say they've never seen a bit that bad. Dog had rabbie shots (thank God) and they were fined 230.00 for not having their dog on a leash. Plus they have to take the dog to a vet 3 times within the next 10 days... That's it!!! Needless to say our whole family is sick over this. They live down the street from us and I've only seen/heard this G.D. bark outsides it's little appartment window while taking our walks. We have NO idea why this dog attacked my husband. Of course the owners say this is the first time anything like this has happened...... They have a 3 year old daughter which I fear for. Will find out more when my husband gives them his medical bills once they start coming in. For now he's doing good. Not much pain just laying low for the weekend. Good thing it wasn't his right arm..... Let all be glad we have good dogs. Kathy & Lauscha

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I agree with you F.  If any dog of mine did such a thing I would like to think I would take the hard decision.  It is just too dangerous to contemplate having a vicious dog.  I am lucky that I have never had such a situation.  An attack on a Man is bad enough but imagine the same on a small child.....

[Jennifer and Jack]

F I hear what you are saying, if Jack ever attacked a human being, Jacks life would change dramatically. I don't believe I would put him down but he would never be off leash again, nor would he ever go out in public, He would have to live in my house and in the back yard, when I had company he would have to be crated and no one could touch him.

 

Thankfully Jack shows no signs of aggression toward humans what so ever, he is more likely to lick someone to death than anything.

 

I am so sorry for your husband, a dog bite to a human is a very serious thing. Jack was attacked twice by the same dog, once having his hip ripped out of his socket, it was totally unprovoked, he was on leash under my control and the other dog came up from behind him and got him.

 

The owner was responsible for all vet bills and everything, we ended up going to court because when I was in the hospital and my other neighbor was watching Jack the dog again came after Jack and she was able to pick him up and get him away but she pressed charges, where in the past I was afraid to, and the dog had to be rehomed to a trainer.

 

Make sure this owner pays for this stupidity so he is not likely to do it again.. It is totally the owners fault. People need to know what their dog is capable of and not.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is why training is as much a part of responsible dog ownership as good food, vet care, grooming, etc. A dog's life can truly depend on his being under the owner's control.

Many a dog has ended up hurting someone and being euthanized when training and/or supervision would have alleviated the problem behaviors.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Stories like this scare me.  I'm a runner & I am constantly worried about being bitten by a dog (which is funny because I love dogs - just not aggressive ones).  I almost was bitten once, but luckily it just went away after growling and kind of circling me to keep me off its turf I guess (even though he shot out across the street to where I was running on the path...)  I am also very worried about Bexter being on leash on a walk with me & being attacked.  I don't even know what I'd do.  So...I have decided that whenever I am walking Bexter I will bring the mace spray (which is what I do when I run also).  It's better than nothing.  I'm so sorry about your husband.  I sure hope the owners pay.  If not, you could sue them.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

So sorry to hear that your husband had this horrible experience. My ex was attacked by pits several years ago. Some months after the initial wound healed he started noticing that he was having problems with his arm or maybe he had been having some problems since the bite and it just gradually and slowly got worse (he was never sure). As it turned out he tore his rotator cuff while he was "trying to get his arm back." I would encourage you to be aware that with a bite as serious as your husband has there could be more damage than meets the eye and not to let the owners think that they are off the hook after they pay the original bills. Hope for physical and mental healing for your husband and your family.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Kathy, that is so scary and sad for your husband. Loose dogs, even when accompanied by their owner, have always scared me while running and I have often stopped and just walked by slowly so as not to entice them. I have been bitten by a dog before and I am always on hyper alert now. What's most sad is your husband will always have that in the back of his mind when he's running and I know for me it took some of the stress relief and joy out of it. I hope he heals quickly with no lingering affects.

[Richard Crowe]

We had a Maltese attacked by a Rhoadesian Ridgeback in an RV park in Northern Calirornia.  The 100 pound dog was not leashed, contrary to park rules.  I don't know how my wife (I was walking another Maltese and was a bit of a way behind her because mine had stopped to potty) got the Maltese out of that great dog's jaws.  Luckily, although his abdomen was punctured (the dog had him up in the air with its teeth into him) no organs were punctured and the little dog survived.

 

Holly is a well behaved, well trained and very gentle dog.  However, I will not have her off lead unless we are in an appropriate area such as a dog park.  I believe that all dogs should be leashed when walking the streets. This is both for the protection of other people and fo the protection of the dog.

 

BTW:  I was chewed up along with a Springer Spaniel I had, many years ago by a vicious pit bull.  It is a horrifying experience.  I imagine getting attacked by a gigantic dog like a Dane would be even more horrifying.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow is all I can say.  I certainly that you DH has a complete recovery.  I can't even imagine what he went through.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

this is aweful, thats one huge gash! You know, if the dog was a pitbull of a rottweiler, it would have been put down

[charlotte bednarsh]

OMG...am so sorry this happened. Thank goodness the owners were at least home to call the dog "off" so to speak.  I only hope they think about the fact this dog could potentially kill their daughter with that kind of temperment.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

OMG How horrifying!! Wishing your husband a speedy recovery:)  I can't believe there isn't more punishment for the dog owner.

[Leslie and Halas]

This is awful.  I hope your husband makes a quick, full recovery.