Well it happened. My daughter unfortunately got bit lastnight by Grandma's neighbors dog-nothing bad thanks to her limited knowledge of warning signs. I am having a hell of a time getting proof that this dog has had it's rabies and vac. I got a verbal from the Great Dane Rescue facility in Kentucky that he did indeed have them but have yet to see anything in writing. Any suggestions on how to speed up the process? Yes police were called, she called a local vet and wanted the dog put down ASAP which they can't because of the 10 day waiting period, I am kinda worried about her running off now. The lady who runs the rescue place is sounding like she wants me to take the dog till she can get him back because the foster mom is in violation of their contract. What all can my daughter get from this dog-I know Rabies, Distemper and my daughters doctor is acting like it is no big deal,but I am still trippin. Yes skin was broke and it bled. Can anyone offer any advice? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

When it comes to dog bites infection is the major worry. Having wound properly cleansed and antibiotics is the treatment. Rabies and the other worst case sceniros can't be taken lightly, the dog apparently didn't have a dog tag on that showed his last shots and the clinic?

How did this happen anyway? Where was your daughter and what was the dog doing before and after the bite? Did he come to her? Or did she go to the dog? How server was the bite? Was it a bite a hold or a tear? Did he stop after the inital bite/attack? There is a slight difference.

I'm just trying to get a idea of what happen in order to prevent it from happening again, in a simlar situation, here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

She seem to have handled it well, if we could just calm her mother down, I understand this is your daughter.

My daughter fortunately has learned from the time she was walking how to act around dogs. The foster mother told my daughter it was okay if she wanted to pet him the dog was on a leash outside of the apartment complex. She approached him the way I taught her Not to rush the dog, to go calmly up and let the dog sniff you first, then she slowly brought her hand up because she said he (the Great Dane) watched her hand very closely-then as she brought her hand up on the side of his head, he lunged and snapped. Because she saw it coming she jerked backward, so she only got bit with the dogs front teeth and canines scraped. It looks nasty but no actual "puncher" marks, more scraps. The foster mother had him on a leash. And her story keeps changing. When we first talked to her she said this was the first time it has ever happened. Then later, once she realized we were understanding of the situation, she said he had snapped at her 16 yr old nephew who was snapping his fingers above the dogs head. What scares me is this dog could have killed my daughter, which my daughter understands, and that this dog who came from an abused home before fostering is in the hands of a lady who know NOTHING about dogs, training, or their behaviors. The dog is extremely underweight-I can see his backbone and ribs, she never lets it outside, he can't see outside because she always has her blinds closed. The foster mom moved to WI from Kentucky and has NONE of his paperwork. No tags nothing. I am just worried of what my daughter can get-but she did know enough to wash it out with soap and warm water after it had happened and put antibiotic ointment on it. She also didn't cry or even let out a peep after he bit her because she knew this could provoke him to do it again. I told the foster mom Never to let anyone pet him on the head because it was obvious to me he has been hit many of times, and I am working now with the lady who runs the rescue facility to get this dog away from this lady and into a proper home.

Dee

That was a close call, it sounds like your daughter did everything right when approaching large strange dog (except denying the offer to pet the dog, in my mind all dogs bites).

Like you I believe this dog will bite anybody except its owner that tries to pet it on the head. Your daughter trainig probably did stopped the dog from advancing or attacking, by showing no real fear, no tharshing arms, no screaming she help keep the dog clam and just heeded his warning.

Its unforunately this woman wanted to test her dog using your child, knowing that the dog had snapped at others, leads me to that conclusion.

I don't think the dogs at fault as much the owner is, she needs a swift kick in her rearend or teeth. Sometimes you have to pay for being ignorant, IMO.

Now I'm not saying that the dog doesn't have problems and is not a threat. Obviously with his back ground and being a giant breed he is more of a uncontrollable threat. He's also probably a sick dog, he's not all there. The owner knew that and still ok'd the contact.

She should be dealt with there may be some legal ramifcations here, I know we all hate to take it there but some times there is no recourse. Kicking in teeth and butt means you have to pay aggrevated assault and battery charges. Its $2k here thats more then a kick in the butt worth of ass to me.

Hi Dee. Sorry your daughter got bit.

A couple of things I want to tell you. First, I'm assuming your in WI, I think that's where you said the foster mom is. While there is a law that says the dog has to be kept on a 10 day hold, there is a way around this law. The vet can put the dog to sleep and send the head to Madison to be tested for rabies. Unfortunately, this can't be done on a Friday because they have to overnight the head. Also, some vets don't want to do this because obviously it's a pain. But, it can be done. We had to do it with a rescue dog, he was with us for 2 months, then suddenly became Cujo - he showed many of the signs associated with rabies, we couldn't even get near him anymore, so of course it would have been impossible to hold him for 10 days.

Anyway, sorry if you knew that (or didn't want to know that they can do that). But, that being said, inform the rescue that she is with that it is illegal to take a dog across state lines without a health certificate and rabies shot. Do not give in on having this dog put down, don't trust that they will do it, tell them you want proof when it does get put down (you never know, they may just switch foster homes and lie to you). Insist that they pay for all medical costs involved with this bite. Who cares if indeed the foster mom is in violation of the contract? The dog bit a child, it needs to be put down. If the rescue takes it from her, they will just place it with someone else.

As far as what your daughter can catch, I've always been told also not to worry, by both vets and doctors. The chances he has rabies is pretty slim and catching other things from dogs is actually more difficult then most people think. If there were no deep puncture wounds, that's good, because those are the ones that get infected easily. Has she seen a doctor? I would just keep the wound bandaged and clean and continually watched for any signs of infection over the next few days.

Hope everything turns out okay for you.

Cathy

Thanks to all so far on the info! I am taking the Great Dane rescues word that the dog has had its shots, as far as the foster mom she now has upset me and really p^ssed me off, I would like to have the dog ceased, she is not giving me any useful information and is lying to me. Do all Rescue facilities require the shots and certificates as you have stated? If so than I will not worry about my daughter probably having to have the shots...but I still will keep the pressure on the foster mom out of spite because she needs to learn some responsibility the hard way! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I would like to have the dog ceased - What does that mean?

All rescues run differently, unfortunately. Yes, ideally, all rescues would have the new dog vetted as soon as possible and keep records of their shots with their main person that keeps the files as well as the foster home having records of the shots. But, that doesn't mean they have to. If they don't have the shot records, they most certainly should be able to call the vet the dog was vetted at and the vet can fax or at least verify the dog did have shots. If they won't do that for you immediately, I'd think something fishy was going on.

Cathy

Cathy I meant someone locally cease the dog for 10 days-this dog as I said was from Kentucky.