CrazyRedhead Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) Sorry, this is going to be kind of long......Haven't been on much in last week because of a very traumatic experience I had last Thursday.......It still causes me anxiety to even think about it. I was walking my dog on a leash around my neighborhood last Thursday.....I never let her roam around loose--she is either on leash, in the house, or playing in my fenced yard......She is mostly an inside dog, but likes to take walks with me sometimes......She is spayed, and up-to-date on all her shots. Anyway, what happened was that a free-roaming dog attacked us while we were walking......He was an intact (non-neutered) male with no collar, no id......He was some sort of large retriever mix, with longer hair....... IMO, I think he was really trying to attack my dog, but my dog was so scared she hid behind my legs, while I tried to beat this dog off with a large stick that just happened to be lying on the ground nearby.....I was yelling "Help, Help, Help" the whole time, at the top of my lungs, but this happened during the middle of the day, while most everyone is either at work or school. Finally he ran away, but not before he bit me quite badly on my leg and hand....My dog suffered no injuries...... Animal Control was called, but they couldn't find the dog that bit me anywhere--I was driven to ER by my friend who lives a short ways away from me.......Got stitched up at ER, and now because they weren't able to find this dog, I have been started on rabies prevention vaccinations.....I have 2 shots more to go to finish the series... Animal Control tells me they are now knocking on doors to try and find this dog.....He probably didn't have rabies--but who really knows that for sure, since we can't find him?......... My State Health Department tells me that rabid dogs are extremely rare in this county, and they haven't seen an actual dog with rabies here in about 15 years, probably because of all the free rabies clinics that we now have here in our area. Now granted, this dog that bit me COULD have gotten loose accidentally.....But I'll never know for sure--maybe his "owner" lets him roam around loose--some people do let their dogs roam freely around with no supervision......Or maybe some scumbag just dumped the poor dog.....these are just some possibilities. Also, he was a mixed breed, so why wasn't he at least neutered?..........I can't think of a rational reason not to neuter a mixed-breed dog......Neutered male dogs are far less likely to get loose and go roaming around, in my experience...... Male dogs that aren't neutered are responsible for about 80-90% percent of all reported dog bites.......Cost of neutering is also not an excuse--we have several very low cost spay/neuter clinics here for lower-income people. I'm lucky..........it could have been a lot worse......but I wish more people were actually responsible for their dogs---And I'm just really pissed that I have a total of about 20 stitches, and have to get rabies shots.......... Edited March 15, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) Also, IF I take my dog out walking again, which I haven't yet decided on, I'm gonna be toting a baseball bat, out of fear of this crap happening again........... Edited March 15, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 That must have been scary! Shit. I'm glad that dog finally ran off. I'm sorry you had to get all the stitches and rabies shots. I've heard the rabies shots really hurt ... I hope they aren't too bad for you. I am glad that animal control is continuing to search for that dog. Totally agree with taking a baseball bat with you if you go out for a walk again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) @melissaw72, I hope they find the dog, and so-called owners of dog, too.....Because if they do, I'm going to take them to court for any outstanding medical bills, and for pain and suffering.......I'm still waiting for a call or e-mail from my insurance to see if they cover those shots......i would think they would, since it's a potentially life-threatening situation, but I want to make sure. The shots are crazy expensive--for the whole series of 5 shots it costs around $3000, according to the ER doc.....But this is potentially RABIES, so I'll have to come with up with the money if insurance doesn't pay....Guess I'll find out soon, but I'm getting the shots, no matter what.... The rabies shots aren't quite as painful now, as they once were, when people had to get them in the stomach.....Well, the first shot was not too comfortable, since they give the first one right around where the bites are.......But the other 4 shots they just give in the upper arm, like a flu shot or tetanus shot. Edited March 15, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 1 hour ago, CrazyRedhead said: Because if they do, I'm going to take them to court for any outstanding medical bills, and for pain and suffering.......I'm still waiting for a call or e-mail from my insurance to see if they cover those shots......i would think they would, since it's a potentially life-threatening situation, but I want to make sure. Definitely take them to court., for all the reasons you say. Definitely (aside from the possible medical bills) sue for pain and suffering. I'd be surprised if you weren't awarded it. $3,000 for the 5 rabies shots? Holy shit! Yes, definitely get all the shots, whether they are covered by insurance or not. Maybe IF they aren't covered, you could file an appeal saying it was a life-threatening situation and you had to have the treatments of 5 shots because you didn't want to risk rabies. Also it wasn't like it was your dog that bit you. Or something like that. Idk your financial situation, but at least at the hospital I go to, they have free care or partial free care, depending on your income. I am glad the rabies shots aren't painful ... I was thinking about the ones in the stomach. I'm glad they are in the arm. Did you get a tetanus shot also? I was bit twice by the same dog and both times I had to get a tetanus shot. I didn't need rabies shots because we knew the dog was ok ... it was my sister's/husband's dog and was up to date with shots etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) 5 minutes ago, melissaw72 said: Did you get a tetanus shot also? Yes, got one of those, too.........Feeling a little like a pincushion right about now..... Also taking antibiotics......**SIGH** Edited March 15, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 6 minutes ago, CrazyRedhead said: Yes, got one of those, too.........Feeling a little like a pincushion right about now..... Also taking antibiotics......**SIGH** I can understand the antibiotics also. I would just take anything I had to in order to avoid getting rabies. (and I know you would too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 1 minute ago, melissaw72 said: I can understand the antibiotics also. I would just take anything I had to in order to avoid getting rabies. (and I know you would too). Yay.!!....Just got a call from my insurance saying they will cover the shots....Whew...!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 16 minutes ago, CrazyRedhead said: Yay.!!....Just got a call from my insurance saying they will cover the shots....Whew...!! What a relief! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) Got 4th rabies shot today.....Only one more next week, and I'm done with this mess after I get my stitches out. The dog still hasn't been found--What a surprise...!! (sarcasm). Edited March 16, 2017 by CrazyRedhead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 3 hours ago, CrazyRedhead said: The dog still hasn't been found--What a surprise...!! (sarcasm). That sucks. I'm glad the rabies shots are almost over, and I am glad they weren't the ones in the stomach! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nervousbat Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) --- Edited May 9, 2017 by nervousbat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 9 hours ago, nervousbat said: I'm glad you and your dog are okay, wish you weren't hurt like that though. People like that are the worst, hope they find the s***head who is letting this animal attack people. Hope they find him, too.....We have a lot of kids playing outside and riding their bikes here, also walkers and joggers......I would hate it, if what happened to me happened to a child, or anyone.....!! We have a leash law here, too--it's against the law in this county to let a dog run loose on public streets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nervousbat Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 2 hours ago, CrazyRedhead said: Hope they find him, too.....We have a lot of kids playing outside and riding their bikes here, also walkers and joggers......I would hate it, if what happened to me happened to a child, or anyone.....!! We have a leash law here, too--it's against the law in this county to let a dog run loose on public streets. I hope that you feel better soon and that you don't have to experience something like this again. I bet they will catch the bad dog owner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 How are you doing? Are you feeling better? Did they ever find/catch the dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) @melissaw72, Thanks for asking, yes I'm feeling much better.......No, they haven't found the dog yet.....**SIGH** My guess is, that either somebody is hiding the dog from Animal Control, or it was just a poor dog that some scumbag dumped off just to get rid of it. And it really sucks that anybody would do either of those things.....People like that should never have a pet if they can't be responsible for it. Edited April 4, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I am glad to know you are doing better 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alien Navel Cord Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 Damn, I am sorry this happened. Due to vaccination rates, thankfully rabies incidents are relatively low in most places, but it is always good to be cautious. Especially if the dog attacked unprovoked like that. I hope they can find the dog or the owner. I hope you heal up quickly, and well. And that this never happens again. Also.. smart dog you have to hide behind you instead of trying to show the bigger dog who's boss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 54 minutes ago, Alien Navel Cord said: Also..smart dog you have to hide behind you instead of trying to show the bigger dog who's boss! Can't figure out if she was acting really smart, or was just being a scaredy-cat..... Either way I still love her.......I hope it never happens again, too.....**SIGH** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarsugar Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 My dog was attacked but I wasn't bitten, I'm very nervous now about it, so I understand carrying a bat. I found from my dog rescue group that citronella spray is also a possibility. You use it like mace but it doesn't injure the dog, just deters it so you can regroup, and maybe it will leave. Won't help in all cases but maybe as a backup. I hope you're OK now and neither of you has bad lasting trauma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted August 12, 2017 Author Share Posted August 12, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, sugarsugar said: My dog was attacked but I wasn't bitten, I'm very nervous now about it, so I understand carrying a bat. I found from my dog rescue group that citronella spray is also a possibility. You use it like mace but it doesn't injure the dog, just deters it so you can regroup, and maybe it will leave. Won't help in all cases but maybe as a backup. I hope you're OK now and neither of you has bad lasting trauma. So sorry your dog was attacked.....Was he/she okay?....Glad you weren't bitten. I've heard about the citronella spray before....Maybe I will get some in the future if I work up the courage to take her out walking again. Honestly, I don't think my dog was traumatized at all from it. It was me that was traumatized, I admit....I'm working on my fear issues from this....But since the incident happened, I no longer take my dog walking on a leash.....I have a huge fenced yard, and for now I'm going out there to interact with her and let her get some exercise. Edited August 12, 2017 by CrazyRedhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarsugar Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 This happened quite a while ago, my dog was badly hurt and required surgery. The owner, who watched the attack and did nothing, paid the bill, but my dog and I never recovered emotionally. I feel like I should be over it, but I avoid walking my dogs. But then, I have trouble getting over trauma so maybe others do better with this stuff. That dog died of other causes not that long after, but he was afraid of other dogs the rest of his life. I'm still nervous around other dogs, and I hate that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRedhead Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 14 hours ago, sugarsugar said: This happened quite a while ago, my dog was badly hurt and required surgery. The owner, who watched the attack and did nothing, paid the bill, but my dog and I never recovered emotionally. I feel like I should be over it, but I avoid walking my dogs. But then, I have trouble getting over trauma so maybe others do better with this stuff. That dog died of other causes not that long after, but he was afraid of other dogs the rest of his life. I'm still nervous around other dogs, and I hate that. The owner of attacking dog did NOTHING when the dog went after your dog?.......That is just horrible, and there's no excuse for it, even if they did pay your bill.............People who can't control their dog in public shouldn't take that dog in public, IMO.... I understand being afraid of walking your dogs after that.....I don't walk my dog anymore after my experience, I just let her play in my fenced yard, because at least that's much safer. I'm so sorry that you and your dog were both traumatized because of an ignorant, irresponsible person. I haven't developed any fear of other dogs because of the incident. probably because I was a dog groomer for many years before my MI got very bad, and during my grooming career, was bitten many times. I'm just afraid to walk my dog now, because I don't want her to be injured or traumatized......She is perfectly content to play in my yard, and there's just too many stupid people out there who can't/won't control their dogs.....**SIGH** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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