STAY SAFE OUT THERE: Dealing with Stray Dogs - The Pet ...

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I love dogs! We have two great retrievers who are part of the family. Having said that, a dog is only as good as his pet parent. Since you?re at The Pet Matchmaker, you?re likely a great pet parent who will do the best for all of your animal companions. A pet parent who is negligent or absent-minded though, can cause a dangerous situation with potentially life threatening outcomes for both people and other animals. Sadly, loose dogs are a common problem and dealing with them can be dangerous.

You are likely to encounter a variety of stray dog scenarios ranging from a lost senior cherub who managed to slip out the back door all the way to an unsocialized animal of uncertain origin. What you do about any stray dog, depends on their temperament, as well as ?how involved you want to be in reuniting the dog with his family or other safe placement.

Recently. I was walking my son in his stroller when we came upon two children and a German Shepherd playing outside their home. The dog was off leash and came running towards us quite aggressively. I called out to the children, telling them to get an adult with a leash to come secure their dog.

The dog continued following us as we walked, still barking. I turned around so I could face the dog, while walking backwards and continued to yell at him directly. At no time did we stop walking or increase our speed.

An adult eventually gathered control of her dog and the situation ended safely. I filed a report with our town police and a citation was issued to the family who owns the dog. Hopefully the fine will motivate the family to monitor their dog at all times. Needless to say, we have since altered our walking pattern.

If you encounter a stray dog who you don?t know, the safest protocol is to call your regional animal control office. Animal control is often affiliated with the local police and/or animal shelter.

If you get chased or bitten by a dog that is not yours, file a report with animal control ASAP. It?s mandatory to validate the dog?s rabies vaccine protection. Especially if the animal has not been vaccinated, he will be quarantined and observed for any signs of rabies. Your report will also be necessary to provide insurance coverage of medical bills for any injuries that you incur.

We live in a busy world and accidents happen every day. The best way to protect your neighbors and your pet is to never leave your pet unattended. Be sure all recommended vaccinations are up-to-date and keep your pets records organized and readily available. Your dog should wear his registration identification tags at all times. Enjoy outdoor activities with your pet, but remember to ?Stay Safe Out There.?

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Source: http://www.thepetmatchmaker.com/stay-safe-out-there-dealing-with-stray-dogs/

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