Dog bites are not always harmful, but they always hurt. They carry
the risk of infection and disease. For these reasons, some communities
have strict standards to keep dogs on leashes and to prevent dogs from
doing harm to people and other dogs. Unfortunately, not all communities
take the dangers and risks involved as seriously as others do. If you
want to take steps in your community to stop dog biting, there are some things you can do.
First of all, if you or your neighbor are bitten by a dog, photograph
it. This is a good way to provide proof that there is a problem and to
spread awareness. Hold the owner accountable for his or her dog's
behavior. Let it be known that repeat offenses will not be tolerated.
If you participate in community functions, holding a town meeting to
discuss, among other things on the agenda, the problem of aggressive dog
behavior and the need to stop dog biting, is a way to push the issue to
the forefront of the town or city's concerns. Oftentimes, ordinances
that everyone can agree on result from these types of meetings, making
it necessary for owners to keep their dogs on leashes at all times when
they are outdoors.
Most of the time, these tactics will work, because owners would rather
be inconvenienced somewhat by the extra supervisory attention they must
place on their dogs than lose their pets altogether. Other than the
simple fact that reasonable people regard human safety as an important
concern, pet owners will understand that it is in their dog's best
interest if he or she is trained to abstain from aggressive, violent, or
other harmful behaviors. Dogs have been known to turn on their owners,
and invariably this results in the dog being put down.
You can also stop dog biting when you lead by example. If your dog has
exhibited aggressive tendencies in the past, start by putting your dog
on a leash when you take him or her outside. If the behavior is
particularly serious, you may want to consider taking your dog to a
trainer who can tone down or completely alter the undesired behavior,
resulting in a positive change in your dog's personality and
disposition.
All of the above can have a positive impact on your community. However,
there is only so much that can be done by just one person. If possible,
get your friends, neighbors and family involved in this pursuit, and let
them know how much it means to you to live in a town or city that is
safe from the threat of injury from dangerous animals.
Stop Dog Biting