I was bitten by a dog- bad end to a bad day.

[shadowfacedanes]

I have just had a perfectly dreadful day in every way. It was really awful. So I took the dogs to the dog park to play. To relax and unwind after a bad day. The dogs always cheer me up. We had just gotten in there, Uncle Fred promptly pooped, so i was walking over to pick it up when a very handsome German Shepherd suddenly ran at me and nipped me in the arm. I turned my back and he bit we hard in the right upper thigh.

I had almost changed into shorts before going out, but fortunately I still had jeans on, as it is I have a large, swollen circular bruise that is getting worse by the minute. The woman with the dog really didn't do anything, she just implied I was making a fuss over nothing while her dog continued to circle and snarl at me.

I hate how it felt. I was scared, and I don't know the last time I was scared of a dog. I have been bitten by accident a bunch of times over the years, but I haven't neen bitten by an angry dog since childhood.

If you were in NC, I would say I know that dog...

Not too long ago (a month or so) Jeff and I were at a park that we go to often sans dogs. I was walking the trail and there was a lady with a German Shepherd by this little bridge you have to cross over to get where you're going. She was paying attention to her child, but not the dog, and as I walked past, the dog looked at me for about a second and then nailed me in the thigh. No warning, nothing. Luckily I was wearing loose clothing so as he literally yanked and pulled at me, it was mostly clothing, but he did still manage to get some of my skin.

I know exactly how you feel...and I'm sorry you went through it.

ETA: I just read your post again and the lady who owned the dog that bit me reacted the same way. She said "Oh Jack's a good dog, he's never bitten anyone" as she is coming closer to me with the stupid dog. She says "Let me see" and I say "GET YOUR DOG AWAY FROM ME". She then goes on to insinuate that it was something *I* did to provoke her dog.

Man, that sounds EXACTLY like what happened to me except I didn't have my dogs with me.

 

[CharlieDog]

I'm sorry DrM. I've only been bitten by an angry dog once, and I have no desire to have it happen again. It just sucks that people who are ignorant and oblivious don't have to suffer the consequences when something like this happens.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

how do things look today? I would report this to animal control--since you don't know if maybe this dog/owner have a history?
Anyway--very sorry this happened. I do enjoy our dog park too--but boy, you just don't know what can happen.

 

[Jules]

I am sorry this happened to you

 

[Chewbecca]

ACK! I'm so sorry this happened.

I would do what Sparks and Zoom suggested at this point.

That lady's reaction was HORRIBLE!
To downplay your dog attacking a human? WTF?

 

[Renee750il]

While it's "at your own risk" as far as your dog's safety, I think it's pretty reasonable to expect NOT to be attacked unprovoked and have your own blood drawn by a human aggressive animal who obviously has no business being in public. Period.

Especially if you have no way of being absolutely certain the dog has had its innoculations

 

[drmom777]

Well, I am still debatinbg what to do. The bite is pretty nasty today- I have a giant lump and deep purple bruise about five inches across, ringed with white dots where the teeth actually contacted. It actually looks kind of cool if you look at it impartially. Not so cool when it is on my leg.

Also, I am limping because it hurts to move the affected muscles. I mean, it isn't a serious injury, I will be fine. But I am quite unhappy about it. I remain afraid that someone else will get hurt--I know a couple of people that were thaere longer with that dog, they might at least know his name. Evidently he was also quite aggressive with other dogs, though Uncle Fred went up to him upon entering the park with no problem.

I see no reason not to take a picture. maybe I will post it for your entertainment. You never know when it might come in handy- especially since the obvious teeth marks make it clear what it is.

Uncle Fred is totally fine, not a mark on him. He enjoyed the fuss everyone made over him, though he has no clue what it was all about. My husband is pretty peeved.

 

[drmom777]

Shadow- it does sound eerily similar. This shepherd was a dark sable, and fairly small by modern standards- I'm guessing maybe 80 lbs. The woman was problably in her forties or so with dyed blond short hair.

 

[Suzzie]

OMG!

OMG OMG OMG!

you've just made me go order doggie pepper spray. If this had happened to me, I would have called the police, animal control, every single public entity and its brother... now that i've had time to think about it, anyway, which unfortunately you didn't have. I don't know what you could do after the fact except report to animal control a description of dog and woman - maybe they'll want to check out that park a few times.

Uncle Fred is my hero! He's a good deal smaller than a GS, isn't he? Yay for him and kudos to his bravery! You shall not hurt my mommy!

 

[xpaeanx]

That really sucks! I'm sorry!

I hate when people don't take responsiblity for their dogs! I hope your leg starts to feel better soon!

and give UF a big pat on the head for me! Good Boy!

 

[shadowfacedanes]

Shadow- it does sound eerily similar. This shepherd was a dark sable, and fairly small by modern standards- I'm guessing maybe 80 lbs. The woman was problably in her forties or so with dyed blond short hair.

I couldn't tell what color her hair was, she had on a huge hat, but she had a very thick accent.

This was a smaller male shepherd also. His name was Jack.

It's very creepy, it sounds so similar.

Was it your right leg or left? Mine was on the right thigh. He grabbed and shook and I literally had to hit him on the head a couple times to get him to let go of me because the lady was just standing there with her back turned not paying any attention to me yelling.

 

[drmom777]

It is the right leg, the lateral part of the thigh, maybe 4 inches down...


Deja vu for you, huh?

 

[shadowfacedanes]

It is the right leg, the lateral part of the thigh, maybe 4 inches down...


Deja vu for you, huh?

Holy crap, sounds like the same exact place. I'll have to see if I can find the pictures I took.

Very deja vu.

I too wish I had gotten the owner's information and notified animal control. I really beat myself up about that the next day after the shock wore off and I realized what happened.

 

[DogLuvvr]

That's awful. I'm so sorry that happened to you.

 

[youhavenoidea]

I don't ACTUALLY know what I would do since I've never been in the situation, and it's one of those "you don't know how you'll react until it happens" sort of things, but throttling the owner comes to mind.

Stupid people suck.

 

[noodlerubyallie]

Dr! I'm so sorry

I don't know how I would have reacted. I'm so glad UF was there!

It's absolutely horrible that you have to go to a dog park and people simply don't care enough about their dogs behavior, especially DANGEROUS behavior. Somehow, it's never the dog's fault that you got injured. It just had to be something you did.

Feel better soon!

 

[ihartgonzo]

Gosh... that is so scary, DrMom. It sounds very painful too. This is NOT something that anyone should EVER have to deal with at a dog park! Dog aggressive dogs are bad enough, but human aggressive dogs, that is simply unacceptable. God forbid, like there are running around constantly in dog parks around here, that GSD decides to target a small child. =(

I have had some creepy encounters with dogs at the dog park, who I felt were dangerous around people, and ALL of them were owned by people with the same crappy, apathetic, ignorant attitude. I was holding a ball (throwing it for my dog and my friend's dog), and a 100-lb Lab literally bowled me over, and jumped all over me, while biting at my hand. Not mouthing... really, seriously biting and leaving bruises. I diffused it quickly by dropping the ball and telling him off. He did the same thing to another woman playing ball with her dog, but the lady was freaking out, which only encouraged him to bite at her more. When we asked the owner to either control her dog or leave, she said, "Oh, he just wants to play ball! If you don't like playing with dogs, get the F*** out of the dog park." Then she continued to yell and curse. And the said part is, we were the ones who left.

It's very hard to think completely clearly in scary situations... but what's important is that you protected yourself and your dog, and let his owner know clearly that her dog should not be in the dog park. After my little encounter, I contacted the dog park's board of directors, and they said they knew the dog and would get a hold of the lady. I never saw her again, thank GOD! If I were you, being that the dog bit you so badly and completely unprovoked, I'd contact animal control, who ever runs the dog park, AND put up signs at the dog park to warn people and make sure it's clear that this woman had been warned of her dog's behavior, if he does attack again.

I hope your owie gets better soon. Uncle Fred is such a good boy! Rin Tin Tin ain't got nothing on him.

 

[a.baker]

That lady should of not brought her dog to the park knowing it isn't sociable enough to take into a public place as such. Very irresponsible of that lady especially since it sounds like she had it off the leash. Dog park or not that lady needs to take more responsibility. Really no apology form her?!!! No; are you o.k. or concern?!!! What a crappy lady!!! Thats makes me mad too. If that was me I think I would of gotten pretty angry at that lady. I would of gotten her name and/or followed her to her car and gotten her plate number.

I mean what did you do? Um... nothing but mind your own business. That dog saw you from a distance and lunged at you and attacked. Not cool.

 

[DanL]

A. Baker, maybe the lady didn't know her dog would do that? I don't agree with it happening, at all, but it could have been the 1st time. Having an apathetic attitude towards drmom after it happened is pretty crappy though. I'd be freaking out if one of my dogs ever bit someone unprovoked. Uncle Fred was lucky the dog submitted to him or it could have been ugly. It must have been a pretty poorly bred GSD because a decent one doesn't back down when challenged.

drmom and shadow- you guys should have DEFINITELY obtained info from the owners and reported it. Especially with broken skin- if that dog doesn't have it's shots you could be in danger. I'd be going after them with both barrels.

 

[Renee750il]

It must have been a pretty poorly bred GSD because a decent one doesn't back down when challenged.

Or commit unprovoked bites . . . .