Coworker attacked

[DoBeSassy]

I work at a dog kennel as some of you know, and yesterday a co worker was attacked by a male(intact) Akita.

She went in his kennel to wipe his feet off with medicaed wipes (owners requested it when he was checked in) he started growling, she turned to leave and he attacked.

He bit her twice on the upper arm and twice on the lower arm. Another coworker heard her screaming and came running, and somehow got him off of her. She was taken to the ER and they said they put medicine in the top of her upper arm and it drained out the bottom.

He didn't get the bone or an artery, so she *should* be ok.

The dog has to be quarantined for 30 days and/or put down. The owners have decided not to put him down. This is a decision I really don't agree with. What do you think?

A little background on him: he is really dominant (peed on another co worker before I stated working there), no training, walks all over his owner. Intact becuase he is so cute he HAS to have babies.

[Gids_mama]

ouch im sorry..
i hope shes going to be ok
at the first sign of aggression i think a dog should be nuetured..my opinion.
secondly never turn your back on a aggressive growling dog....NEVER!!!!!!
i wish she had brought someone with her if knowing he had issues.....not saying its her fault and not saying she shouldve had to just saying..

Im wondering if something triggered him or if hes just a naturally aggressive dog...
or if maybe she came at him to stongly ....just wondering..

[HorseLover121203]

I've never understood why they handle these cases this way. That dog should be put down. Period. My 2.5 year old got attacked by a dog in the face! My daughter was just walking by the dog and he went for her face. Knocked her on the ground and had bit her face. She was bleeding everywhere and I had to rush her to the ER. I hope your friend is OK. Gosh! How horrible

[DoBeSassy]

I cleaned his feet Sunday night and I also did it Saturday night by myself. I had a bad feeling about it but I have never liked him.

He has never been agressive to us before and the owner has never said he did anything agressive, but this is her baby.

He could have gone out the doggie door which is oppoiste the door we enter from so he wasn't trapped.

We decided he got fed up with the wipes. I was told its a sign of dominance to pick up their feet. A trainer went to his kennel today and he was happy, she pulled out a wipe and he braced ready to take her on. This was while she was outside his kennel so it doesn't seem to be a one time only thing.

[dproaps]

I would have that dog euthanized. JMO, but a dog that is people-aggressive is always going to be a danger to someone. What if next time it's a small child? I hope the owner thinks about that.

Also hope your coworker is going to be ok, dog bites are very painful.

[Gids_mama]

just lucky it was an adult and not some liil kid or teenager...
id have him put down too..
once a dog thinks hes YOUR leader then its hard to put him in the mentalilty that your the pack leader...poor lady..i hope she makes a full recovery

[Thunderz Gurlz]

I agree with everyone, I would have that dog put down ASAP. I will admit my dog has nipped at kids if they make quick movements but does not "bite" to hurt someone. The lady needs to think about other pepople (wait tell she gets attacked by him!) Your co-worker is in my prayers for a speedy recovery!

[cook1745]

He is a danger and should be put down. Unfortunatly Akita's are known to be agressive and when not trained properly they can turn on even their owner.

[divinemisselle]

A little background on him: he is really dominant (peed on another co worker before I stated working there), no training, walks all over his owner. Intact becuase he is so cute he HAS to have babies.

This information, coupled with the current attack, would lead me to favor euthanizing this animal. As sad as it is, there are too many factors working against him.

I'm so sorry for your coworker. I hope she heals well and quickly!

[yukonjack]

I also agree with euthanization in cases like this. I mean, how could anyone ever trust a dog like that again? And what if it was a little kid next time?!? I know how much we all love our pets, but when it comes down to it, the life of a human far outweighs the life of a dog. Too bad the owners don't see it that way. Sending prayers to your friend for a quick recovery!

[Drafty]

Without having been there, I would not jump so quickly at playing God. Are you sure the attack wasn't provoked? Did the woman misinterpret behavior? How can you easily justify putting down a dog who bit, not out of maliciousness, but out of instinct, when HUMAN murderers who carefully plot out the killing of other people are left to rot in jail for YEARS because it is "inhumane" to kill THEM?

I believe there is a time and place for destroying an animal that is truly dangerous to society, since there are so many GOOD animals that need homes. However that being said, I would bet that at least 99% of the time people are bitten by dogs because they provoked the animal OR because the unintentionally provoked the animal (i.e. missed or misread the signals given off by the dog).

Just something to think about.

Also, in this situation it sounds like the animal was ruined by human incompetence. Some time spent with a skilled, professional trainer, and then finding a home that would follow up with the training could be enough to turn him around. Or maybe he is too far gone. Who can say without having been there?

[KatieMae]

Originally Posted by HorseLover121203

I've never understood why they handle these cases this way. That dog should be put down. Period. My 2.5 year old got attacked by a dog in the face! My daughter was just walking by the dog and he went for her face. Knocked her on the ground and had bit her face. She was bleeding everywhere and I had to rush her to the ER. I hope your friend is OK. Gosh! How horrible

I was bit in the face by a dog when I was about 5 years old...
I did not provoke him, according to my parents (too little to remember what I was doing), one minute we were playing, the next I had blood pouring out of 3 holes in my face; 2 of which were just millimeters from my eyes...
My parents did not request the dog be put down, but now that I'm older and a little smarter, I wish they had.
I don't feel that any dog who has willingly attacked a human, for no known reason, once taken out of quarentine, should be put back into anyone's hands.

Just my honest opinion..

[short_kid]

It wasn't one warning bite. It was an attack. Put it down.

[BklynCwgrl]

That's VERY scary! Curious...if everyone knew he was "dominant" and "aggressive" should he have been wearing a muzzle?

Was he being boarded at your kennel? I guess I am not sure about euthanizing him...if the owner wants to be stupid and chance that dog killing her or someone she loves...so be it. But I certainly wouldn't be caring for a dog like that ever again!

[DoBeSassy]

He is dominant, but hasn't been agressive until then. the only warnign I know of is what I what I felt but didn't mention. And he was/is boarding at the kennel I work at.
He now has a lock on his gate and no one is allowed to enter unless he is locked in/out. The only one allowed to go in with him (if for some reason we had to) is our mamager/trainer.

[Slim Pikkens]

In ON the hospital has to notify Public Health and the dog is quarantined for 10 days. The dog is permitted to live and if in a home environment, not allowed outside off leash during this time. Should it break skin again I believe the dog has to be put down. They are allowed one mistake because sometimes it's the result of people teasing or provoking the dog or an out of the norm circumstance.

[dimpleflirt]

Its so funny how a lot of "owners" of dogs like this over look the behavior when it happens to someone else but I bet it he does this to her,she may change her mind.
I had a neighbors dog try to show aggression with me in MY front yard and it got chased home with me holding a hammer in one hand and a whip in the other.The neighbor came out of her house and cussed me out for scaring her sweet little pooch.A couple months later I saw her in the front yard and inquired as to where the dog was because I didn't want it charging out at us and she said that they had the pound put it down because it bit a family members child. Hmmm...OK to growl at me and mine but not her family so uncool.It was just a good thing at least that they got rid of it.
I too think the dog should be put down ,Akitas are up there on the aggressive dog list and good breeding should be for TEMPERMENT as well as build. Aggressive begets aggressive....

[Hideaway]

If it were my dog and I was stupid enough to keep it intact because it's cute and would make cute babies, I would attempt to lower it's dominance by getting it fixed and monitor it closely. Never should the dog be allowed around children even attended. If the behavior didn't change, I would have him euthanized.

As the kennel owner, I don't think you can tell the owner to put the dog down but since this owner isn't the smartest thinker, I would kindly tell the owner that the dog is no longer welcome back becuase of this behavior and the liability.

Drafty, we don't euthanize terrible, sick humans, but I think we should or never allow them out to harm others. That's my own opinion. I would much rather my dog be put out of it's misery if I couldn't keep it happy at the same time as keeping my family and others safe. You're right that we don't know the whole situation and can't, but any dog that does that damage has intent behind it and I'm sorry, it's not worth keeping.

[DoBeSassy]

Originally Posted by Drafty

Without having been there, I would not jump so quickly at playing God. Are you sure the attack wasn't provoked? Did the woman misinterpret behavior? How can you easily justify putting down a dog who bit, not out of maliciousness, but out of instinct, when HUMAN murderers who carefully plot out the killing of other people are left to rot in jail for YEARS because it is "inhumane" to kill THEM?

I don't remember saying anything about letting human murderers live

[carmor07]

Originally Posted by dproaps

I would have that dog euthanized. JMO, but a dog that is people-aggressive is always going to be a danger to someone. What if next time it's a small child? I hope the owner thinks about that.

Also hope your coworker is going to be ok, dog bites are very painful.

I soo agree.