Here's a question for anyone that's ever done decoy work that's "gone wrong"... safety is always our #1 priority when doing bitework, but I am sure that there is some way for it to go wrong and some of these dogs have absolutely CRUSHING bites. If for some reason a dog bites you and it somehow fractures your arm, what do you tell them at the hospital when you come in? I was told by a local decoy that if you ever get bitten by a protection dog during training that you should tell the hospital that you were climbing a rusty barb wire fence, n they will give you all the right shots for a dog bite... however, if your bite is more severe than can just be taken care of by shots and bandages, such as a broken or fractured bone, they're not gonna buy the whole fence thing (not that they'd buy it to begin with, I'm sure they know what dog bites look like!), what do you tell them? I would hate to make a decoying mistake and have a dog classified as a dangerous dog or even put down or taken away because the hospital reported a dog bite, and I've been told that even if a dog was supposed to bite someone n it was an accident that there's hospital insurance companies or something that try to push the issue and want something done about the dog in dog bite cases.

I'm not anticipating anything happening, but if something ever were to happen, wether it's tonight or in 10 years, things tend to happen so fast that there's no time to get on the message board and ask this question when it's too late <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have been told that it is best to report that your own dog bit you. The same person told me that it 'doesn't count against the dog' that way; that medical personnel do not have to report a bite if you are the owner of the dog'. It still might be hard to explain. It seems reasonable but I can't vouch for the accuracy. Does anyone know if that is true? Perhaps someone that has worked in an ER?

Hey Mike,

On the light side of this......

Can you imagine the scenario where your dog bites you by mistake, breaks your arm and you go to hospital to have it put in plaster.

You return home and find your dog instantly in prey drive go for your new plaster cast cos he thinks it's the sleeve :P

Man that's a double whammy lol

John

I was also told by another decoy that the best story is the one that it was your own dog. Might take some cleverness to come up with a scenario that's believable in case anyone presses the issue.

he made an error of judgement and got bit pretty good by a malinois and had to get patched up. Imagine having to explain the chunk missing out of the back of your arm and then pulling out the pictures in your wallet of a fluffy golden retriever...

I don't know if this is the same or not: recently I was bitten by a cat that I'd found in a vacant house. Legally, the ER had to report it, along with a description of the animal (as if they're really going to go out looking!) It seemed like you could pretty much tell them anything (please don't say pitbull <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> you want, and they just write it down, whether it makes sense or not. They said to bring it in to have it rabies tested (sure). So, if you don't know who bit you, or where it went, and it happened so fast you couldn't really get a good description, I'd guess you'll be ok legally. It seemed like paperwork more than anything else. However, dogs may be a different story altogether.

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So, if you don't know who bit you, or where it went, and it happened so fast you couldn't really get a good description, I'd guess you'll be ok legally.

I wouldn't say this. This is when they insist you go through rabies treatment, what with unknown vaccination status of the animal. Never volunteer an animal for "rabies testing" unless you have no choice. The ONLY way to test for rabies is by examining the brain tissue of the animal in question. Rabies testing=dead animal.

Having been bitten at our club(beginners mistake) I did not run into any problems. I explained what our club does, why I was bitten, and clearly emphasised that it was an accident. The info regarding the dogs shots were collected, as well as an accident report, and statements from people there. The dog was quarintined for ten days and released back to the owners.If the club is registered and meets often to train we were told that this was an assumed risk and to be careful next time.

Lorelei

Hey Mike,
I think if this happened I would just tell them the truth. Explain you were doing a training scenario and how the injury occured. That doesn't mean you have to give the name and address of the dog's owner. JMO though.

*** DISCLAIMER *** Not a lawyer !!!

I would tell them I was bitten by a dog. Nothing more. YOU are under NO legal obligation to report to ANYONE that you were bitten by a dog, be it an accidental bite or the rabid dog down the street. The hospital DOES have a legal obligation to report the dog bite.

However, the hospital ALSO has the legal (and ethical) obligation to treat you, regardless if you tell them the entire story or not.

I'd simply tell them I was bitten by an unknown dog and I obviously don't know the dogs vacination history, nothing more. The hospital will treat you appropriately for your medical condition and report the bite with whatever info you gave. If they (or anyone else) pushes the issue, don;t back down. As I said, a private individual has NO obligation to report a dog bite upon themselves.

That's my opinion.

I know two people that work in ER. I will ask them for the facts on what occurs at their hospitals and get back with you. They are at opposite ends of the country...one in FL and one in WA.