dog park bite:(

[Sally]

So yesterday morning i put duncan's coat on and took him to the dog park nice and early to meet up with some friends and let them romp in the fresh snow....Mind you i'm not usually a fan of going on the weekends as i feel that there are a lot of "less experienced" dog owners there on weekends. But we figured it'd be quiet.

Everything was fine. Duncan was digging and fetching a stick and having a good time. We were actually just about ready to leave and then someone gave him a dog biscuit which of course he couldn't refuse. So while he was munching on it a pit bull named roxy came to sniff his butt and i guess see if he wanted to play. He looked over his shoulder and growled. He of course wanted to finish his cookie (and protect it). She immediately attacked him. It happened so fast. He was pinned and i heard him yelp. Ugh! But the owner grabbed roxy quickly and they took her out of the main dog run into the smaller pen. They asked if Duncan was ok. I looked at him and he seemed fine. Mind you his coat was on. I figured if she bit him i'd see the coat was ripped. We left and it was a normal afternoon. That evening i noticed blood on his coat on the inside...i brushed it off for a second thinking maybe roxy's tooth got caught on the coat and bled. Um NO! Upon inspection i found a large flesh wound. My poor Dunkeroo had been bit and I didn't even know. So i rushed him to the vet. They cleaned it out and put a staple to close it up. He had to get a shot of antibiotic and a rabies booster.

I am so mad at myself for not inspecting him sooner but even more mad that after speaking to others apparently roxy has bitten 2 other dogs. The owners are a sweet young couple who rescued her and are trying to give her a good life but i think the time has come to acknowledge that she is better off not in the park. Or at least she needs some assessment/training...

In the meantime, Duncan is sporting a shaved patch on his back. I've been making him wear a tshirt to cover his boo boo because he can scratch it with his back leg.

We talk about first aid a lot here and how to clean wounds etc. I think my $200 was money well spent to know it was taken care of correctly. I have peace of mind. I think about how i would have tried to put neosporin on it and not thought to remove the fur there first. I know my limits! 

Anyway, just wanted to share. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so sorry this happened to poor Duncan...and you.  I'm just happy that he's going to be fine.  I really think there should be a huge sign at every dog park saying....NO FOOD OR TOYS allowed.  I once asked my Daycare owner how she seems to be able to manage 30 dogs at a time....no fights...everyone getting along great.  Part of it is that they are pre-screened, but she also said that there is never any food or toys to give them any reason to be protective.  They have nothing to guard.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am so sorry that happen, I hate that for our babies, My mom's dog park has a huge sign, No food or toys allowed, though so bring in balls, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

I am so sorry that is just sad...

[Christine & Camus]

I'm glad Duncan is okay and that his wound was not more serious.  I totally agree with Jane about food in group settings.  I learned my lesson when I had kibble in my pocket (for training purposes) and a little dog went after Camus because he was too close to the pocket.  Thankfully Camus does not guard anything.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Sally - I'm so glad that Duncan is going to be o.k. - my Rooney was attacked once at the dog park and I was terrified!!!  I will join the others here - bringing food - any kind of food into a dog park is a huge NO NO!!!!  Who ever brought that cookie needs to be told NOT to bring food - ever, no treats - nothing.  It is not only dangerous for the dogs but also for the humans.  I would go to the biter's owners and give them the vet bill and explain that you have a concern that their dog has bit before - they need to muzzle their dog at the park.  Good luck. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Glad to hear Duncan is ok - it sounds like Roxy's owners are trying to give her a good life after rescuing her, but you're right maybe she needs some more "tame" socialization before she should go back to a dog park.

I really don't like it when people bring treats - it makes for potentially dangerous situations.  Not to mention that some people wave a treat in front of Luna and give it to her when she's jumping on them!  Sometimes people ask if she can have one, but then I ask them to make her sit or down before she gets it...  free treats while on 2 paws ruins our training!

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm glad the vet got him patched up. If it needed a staple, the wound was too big for you to try to take care of at home, so going to the vet was definitely the right move. It sounds like the owners care about Roxy, so maybe they would be willing to take some advice if you see them again. She shouldn't be in the dog park until she's had more training and can be trusted.

[Leslie and Halas]

We also aren't supposed to have food at our dog park, but sometimes people still bring treats in anyway.

[Becka]

Ours too, and I find it very aggravating. Last night I saw a couple was giving Sadie treats and (unsurprisingly) their dog went after her. I asked them politely not to give her anymore treats, explaining that she has a sensitive stomach, and also pointing out that it can cause friction between dogs. They were a very nice young couple but very clueless.

[Adina P]

Oh man, so sorry.  Roxy does NOT belong in the park for free play.  Period.  She can have a good life without a dog park and be less of a threat to other dogs that way.

[Christine & Shelby]

Agreed!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

First give that baby a big hug from me....second, Daisy was bitten on her back at daycare (she no longer goes as I was the one who discovered the wound not the daycare) and third, you did the right thing, that is what we did and that is how the Vet handled the bite.

I feel badly for Roxy but she should not be allowed at the dog park! Maybe this incident will open the eyes of that young couple.

[Martha & Cooper]

So glad Duncan is going to be ok and that you got him treated at the Vet.   Give Duncan a hug from Cooper and me!