Ward off vicious dog attacks with responsible behaviors

The recent dog attack on a mail carrier on Youngstown’s South Side illustrates the serious and sometimes deadly dangers of irresponsible pet ownership.

It also serves as a forceful reminder about the importance of knowing and using defensive and offensive strategies to prevent similar tragedies.

Late last month, Shawn Miller, a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, was rushed to the intensive care unit of St. Elizabeth Health Center after suffering a gashing bite from his lower jaw to his eye from a dog that had broken loose from its chain.

Deputy Dog Warden Dave Nelson called the injury one of the most vicious bites he had ever seen in his career.

The dog’s owner told police he had no permit for the dog, and the dog had no shots. He also exhibited rude and uncooperative behavior when police arrived, according to reports.

This case perfectly illustrates the potentially dreadful consequences by those who fail to take their duties of pet ownership seriously.

DOG BITES BY THE NUMBERS

The dangers of dog bites loom larger than many realize.

More than 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and those most commonly attacked are children, the elderly and letter carriers, said David Van Allen, a regional spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service. Ohio ranks fourth in the nation in the number of attacks on letter carriers.

More than 30,000 victims of dog bites undergo reconstructive surgery each year, and about 20 Americans die of dog bites yearly.

Clearly the consequences of dog attacks can scar lives physically and emotionally for years.

That’s why it’s critical for owners of America’s estimated population of 75 million dogs to aggressively work to avoid the possibility of their beloved four-legged family member wreaking havoc on a community and endanger- ing innocent lives.

Among the offensive strategies include not permitting dogs to roam free, keeping dogs securely tethered while outdoors on private property and ensuring the dog’s shots and vaccinations are up to date. Training dogs on proper socialization skills will also help minimize the potential for violent attacks.

Even in the best of cases, however, good dogs can go bad. That’s why it’s up to all of us to be aware of and practice defensive strategies to prevent dog bites. The Anti-Cruelty Society offers a variety of worthwhile preventive tips:

Do not approach a stray or unfamiliar dog, especially if its owner is not present.

Do not try to pet, make eye contact with or run or scream near an unfamiliar dog.

Do not approach a dog while it is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.

Healthy doses of common sense by owners also must play a role. For example, adults with small children should shy away from welcoming aggressive breeds into their home.

COMMON SENSE MUST PREVAIL

Common sense should also dictate that when an attack occurs, dog owners must immediately control their dogs, assist the victim and report the incident to authorities.

The attack last month on Winona Drive failed miserably on all levels of the responsibility test. As a result, police are well within their rights to consider tough federal charges against the negligent owner.

Fear of harsh punishment, fines and jail time may be needed to motivate some careless dog owners to be responsible. It should not, however, have to be that way.

In the name of public safety, pet owners must do everything within their power to ensure their household’s best friend never becomes another’s worst nightmare.