This article was co-authored by Shawn Riley. Shawn Riley is a Canine Trainer & Behaviorist based in Tualatin, Oregon. With over 40 years of experience, Shawn trains people to properly establish and maintain leadership roles with their canine companions. Shawn has trained with several acclaimed canine experts and refined The Dog Way training methods through experience and observation of dogs' natural interactions within their groups. Shawn has appeared on several local TV shows and was recruited by National Geographic as the on-set Behavioral Advisor for a national video series called “My Dog Ate What?”
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If you come across an aggressive or dangerous dog you need to stay safe and report the dog to the proper authorities. Taking the right steps in this kind of incident should be done for the dog's sake, as well as for you and your community's well-being. Here's how to deal with and report a dangerous dog.
Steps
Assessing the Situation and Staying Safe
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1Keep yourself safe. If you come across an aggressive dog, particularly an unattended stray, the best thing to do is to slowly back away from it before you get too close. Aggressive dogs do not like you to enter their area, so don't be tempted to try to calm it down by moving towards it.
- If you run, the dog may go after you and attack. Keep calm, avoid strong eye contact, and do not enter their space.[1]
- Be sure that you don't stop backing away from an aggressive dog until you are a safe distance away. Once you are far enough away, turn and walk away.
- Don't assume that a dog is aggressive purely due to its breed. Aggressiveness is most often due to training, or lack of training, or abuse, not due to ingrained attributes of a breed.[2]
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2Defend yourself if you are actively being attacked. Protect your face and other sensitive areas of your body such as your neck and chest.[3] If you are on the ground try to curl up in a ball and wrap your hands around the back of your neck to protect it.[4]
- Try to get the dog to attack something other than your body. If you have a sweater or a bag, try to get the dog to attack that instead.[5]
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3Warn others you come across that there is an aggressive dog in the area. This is especially important if you see children walking in the direction of the dog.
Reporting the Dog to the Proper Authorities
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1Call the Emergency Services, or your local emergency number, if you or someone else is in danger. If a person is being attacked, they will probably need medical attention. The police will also need to assess the situation if the attack is severe enough.
- This does not mean that you should call the Emergency Services if you are nipped or barked at by a dog. However, you should call the police if you, or someone else, is experiencing severe physical harm. In some cases dog attacks can be very serious and cause injury or death.
- If you have been bitten but are in no danger of further immediate injury you may want to call your local non-emergency police number. They can connect you to the police unit that deals with crimes involving animals, if there is one in your area.
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2Locate the number for your local animal shelter or humane society if the dog is being aggressive. You can find this number by searching in your telephone book, online, or by calling local directory assistance.
- Your community may also have an animal control department. If you have one, and the dog is severely aggressive, it may be best to find their number. They may be able to get to the scene more quickly than animal shelter or humane society personnel.
- If you are in a rural area you may need to get the number of the sheriff, as other options may not be available.[6]
- If you're a child, tell an adult right away so that they can make the call.
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3Call and make your report. Be prepared to describe the dog's physical characteristics and location. You may be asked for your phone number as well, so that responders can call you for more details. The authorities on the phone should tell you what to do next and those responding will take care of the dog as quickly, and humanely, as they can.
- Report the dog as soon as possible so that the animal control authorities can locate it before it gets far from where you saw it.
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4Stay on the line if requested. It may be the case that the animal is traveling away from the location you reported. While your first priority should be your own safety, it may be helpful for you to keep an eye on where the dog is going, especially if it traveling quickly.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionShould I report a dangerous dog in my area?
Shawn RileyShawn Riley is a Canine Trainer & Behaviorist based in Tualatin, Oregon. With over 40 years of experience, Shawn trains people to properly establish and maintain leadership roles with their canine companions. Shawn has trained with several acclaimed canine experts and refined The Dog Way training methods through experience and observation of dogs' natural interactions within their groups. Shawn has appeared on several local TV shows and was recruited by National Geographic as the on-set Behavioral Advisor for a national video series called “My Dog Ate What?”
Canine Trainer & BehavioristAbsolutely! Everyone has a responsibility to report dangerous dogs to the authorities. If the dog attacks someone afterwards and you didn't do anything about it, that attack will be on you because you didn't do something about it when you could have. -
QuestionWho do I call if I know of a vicious dog and negligent owner?
Community AnswerYou can call animal control. They can deal with both the dog and the owner. -
QuestionMy neighbor's dog gets out. I know it has killed other dogs, and I have seen it kill cats. Today, it went after a child walking with mother and another neighbor chased it off with a rake. No one was bitten. Should I report this?
Community AnswerYes, you should report this incident to the police, who can contact the owner and animal control.
Warnings
- Stray dogs can carry fleas and diseases. Be careful about handling them, whether they seem particularly dangerous or not.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- If the dog seems dangerous, make your own safety your number one concern. Don't approach it.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about staying safe outside, check out our in-depth interview with Shawn Riley.
References
- ↑ http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/biting/When-Dogs-Attack
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-on-dangerous-dog-laws
- ↑ http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/biting/When-Dogs-Attack
- ↑ http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/dog-behavior/what-do-if-a-dog-attacks-you/page/0/1
- ↑ http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/biting/When-Dogs-Attack
- ↑ http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/what_to_do_stray_pet.html
About This Article
Reporting a dangerous dog to the correct authorities is important for the dog’s sake as well as your own safety. The first thing to do is slowly back away from the dangerous dog to make sure you stay out of harm’s way. If you or someone else is being attacked, call the local emergency services number to get medical attention and police support. However, if the dog is just being aggressive, or if it hasn’t seriously injured anyone yet, contact your local animal shelter or humane society. You’ll be able to find their contact details online or in a phone book. When you call, describe what the dog looks like and where you saw it. Ask the person on the line if there is any further actions you need to take, like staying on the line to monitor where the dog is going if it’s on the move. For tips on how to defend yourself against a dog attack, keep reading!
