Spork the Lip-eating Dachshund Spork is Safe (for now)

[Groch]

Dog lovers in Colorado have been captivated by the story of Spork, the dachshund who severely bit a veteranairy assistant in Loveland. Today's ruling puts Spork on "best behavior".

Most of the story can be found HERE..

Another article indicating not just a bite, but possible human canibalism HERE.

And today's verdict which puts Spork on probation for 6 months (but leaves his owners open to possible lawsuits) HERE.


It does look like the vet tech got very seriously hurt. I think justice was pretty well done, and expect 10 year old Spork will be a good boy for his probation period.

 

[bubbatd]

Good lord , accidents happens !! I'm sorry , but I don't fault this dog if this was his first problem .

 

[elegy]

as a vet tech, i find this story so upsetting. it's supposed to be that bites in a veterinary setting are by definition considered provoked. that means you can't convict the dog of being "dangerous" or "vicious" based on its behavior at the vet's.

the last thing we need is people feeling like it's not safe to take their dogs to the vet for treatment because they're afraid of being pursued legally if their dog bites somebody. that's not right and it's not fair.

it really sucks that that woman lost part of her face. that's a brutal way to learn the lesson "don't stick your face in a dog's face". and sure, spork might be a nasty little blighter. but it was still a provoked bite.

 

[Jules]

It was chaotic, the dog was so terrified he was shaking and pooped on his owner's arm. The vet tech said something like "son of a bitch', maybe she was frustrated, aggravated and the dog picked up on it.

It's a sad story... but it's even sadder how quickly we deem a dog vicious and want to kill it.

 

[sillysally]

Another article indicating not just a bite, but possible human canibalism HERE.

Spork would have to be human to be guilty of human cannibalism, no?

I look at the whole thing this way--dogs and cats bite, especially scared dogs and cats. If you are going to be a veterinary employee working working with small animals, you (collective) need to be OK with the fact that you are likely to be bitten, and it is your job to do your best to ensure that this does not happen. If you fail at that or if sh!t happens, it's part of the job--end of story.

I worked at a boarding and public riding barn for 10 years. I was bitten, kicked, stepped on, run over, struck at, thrown, and flipped over on. Some of the most severe injuries I've gotten have been from horse stuff. Some of that stuff was just stuff that happens with horses, but some of it was also perfectly preventable on my part had I been paying more attention. You just try to prevent it and move on--you don't attempt to start court proceedings to punish the horse and its owners.

I think that is one of the more unfortunate side-effects of the "dogs as family members" attitude--some people take it to the point where they forget that at the end of the day, dogs are still animals.

This was just a case of a scared animal being a scared animal and a mistake by a vet tech that got her bitten......

 

[Grab]

It is possible that a doctor reported it on their own. But, as a tech, I cannot imagine attempting legal charges against an owner. Being bitten is a risk of the job. I've been bitten..not often, as I have common sense but I am often scratched up. And I would never stick my face in a dog's face. When I have to carry a dog back (some will not walk back on leash) I always have the owner hand the dog to me as well.

Pursuing legal charges is ridiculous

 

[elegy]

When I have to carry a dog back (some will not walk back on leash) I always have the owner hand the dog to me as well.

i will actually often have people set the dog down either on the floor or on the counter so i can pick him up in a manner that lets me control his head better. the exceptions being baby puppies or dogs that i know well.

that hand-off point just seems like such a loaded moment- "a scary stranger in a scary place is taking me away from my owner".

 

[Punkygirl0101]

That dog should have had a muzzle on for precautions. Even the nicest dogs can bite when frightened and scared. I always have my dogs muzzled at the vet for safety reasons.

 

[Sweet72947]

If you read this blog, The Long and Short of it All: A Dachshund Dog News Magazine: Dachshund 'Spork' Bites Vet Tech - Labeled Vicious Dog - May Be Euthanized!

There is a comment toward the bottom that claims that neither the tech nor the vet filed charges, that a report was required to be filed because the tech went to the hospital, and the city of Lafayette filed the charges. Is it just me, or do a lot of places in Colorado seem anti-dog?

 

[icemannn]

even if you bathe several times a week

 

[LilahRoot]

If you read this blog, The Long and Short of it All: A Dachshund Dog News Magazine: Dachshund 'Spork' Bites Vet Tech - Labeled Vicious Dog - May Be Euthanized!

There is a comment toward the bottom that claims that neither the tech nor the vet filed charges, that a report was required to be filed because the tech went to the hospital, and the city of Lafayette filed the charges. Is it just me, or do a lot of places in Colorado seem anti-dog?

It may seem that way, but it really isn't. Since I moved out here from Pennsylvania I have seen a lot more responsible pet ownership and people that value their canine companions. In Pa dogs were just animals that were easy come easy go pretty much. Here there are dog parks and GOOD veterinarians. It is only certain areas that are seemingly anti dog. IMO.

As far as the Vet Tech filing charges. She's a moron and has no business in the field.

ETA: The tech may not have filed the dog bite report with AC but from what I read she is pursuing a law suit. So....

 

[Saeleofu]

I've been bit in the lip. **** near took my lip off. It happens. The people never brought their dog in to us again, but he's alive and well and that's fine with me. It's not the dog's fault for being scared.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Likewise, the charges will go away if the Lafayette city council decides to amend its animal-control ordinance to exempt veterinary personnel, as the state regulations do.

Wouldn't state law over rule local law anyhow?

 

[sillysally]

Wouldn't state law over rule local law anyhow?

As far as I know local laws can over rule state laws if they are more strict than the state laws...