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HOW TO SURVIVE A WILD DOG ATTACK
A REASON TO BE CONCERNED
Wild dogs recently killed a 65-year-old woman and her 77-year-old husband. The event did not happen in the outback or the wilds of Africa. This happened in the United States in a quiet neighborhood in Georgia.
Feral (wild) dogs are animals that haven't received human socialization. Pets that are released (or run away) and then reproduce are the common source of feral animals. The pet dog population in the United States is larger than any other country.
DVM Magazine's February 2009 issue stated that the ASPCA projects that a million household pets could become homeless in the United States due to economic concerns. Rather than euthanize a family pet, some owners prefer to set their pets free to fend for themselves, thinking this a kinder option.
PBS produced a documentary (Dogs and More Dogs, 2004) that showed wild foxes bred selectively could produce domestic puppies by the 2nd or 3rd generation. Canines that must secure their own shelter and food will choose to mate with animals which are also skilled in this area. In turn, they produce litters that inherit these traits.
In one year's time a single pet dog can transform into a skilled hunter adding numbers of wild animals to a pack. It is surprising that these horrifying deaths don't occur more often considering these statistics.
USE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT:
Understand that this information is designed to help you either avoid a wild dog attack or survive an attack. The recommendations to use lethal force is in the defense of human life, but that may not protect you from legal actions. The focus of this article is to provide you with tools to escape alive.
HAVE A PLAN
Before you are ever in the circumstance, you can take measures to help insure your survival. A dog communicates his meaning with body language; in turn he will read your body language. Make yourself an undesirable target with your body language.
Take a repellent with you when you take a walk. You can usually repel dogs with a mixture of ammonia and hot sauce in a pistol-grip spray bottle; set your sprayer half-way between mist and stream. Get your best results by aiming for the mouth, eyes and nostrils.
Carry something with which to defend yourself. You can choose from a wide range of implements: knives, bats, golf clubs, knives, sticks, etc. Think outside the box. Whatever you find that you can place between yourself and an advancing dog is a good choice.
Don't let your guard down when a strange dog advances. You may think a breed is harmless, but you can't know for certain about this one particular animal. A dog that approaches with his head held level, not high and not low, is showing signs of aggression. A dog is a threat if he is moving evenly towards you at a steady run; this is much different than a friendly, loping gait.
AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF A THREAT
Looking into the eyes of the dog is a mistake. This is a challenge to the dog. Direct your eyes elsewhere. DON'T gaze into the animal's eyes.
Don't try to appear friendly with a smile. Exposing your teeth to a dog is a challenge to him, a sign of aggression. The wild dog will meet this challenge by attacking.
Rather than face the animal, turn your side slightly towards the approaching dog. Point the your weaker, less dominant, side towards the animal, keeping him within your peripheral line of sight. Offering the dog your side signals that you are not a threat; a face-forward stance positions you to attack him (in dog language).
DON'T PUT WEAKNESS OR FEAR ON DISPLAY
Don't turn around, exposing your back to the dog. This is just the opening an aggressive dog will use to lunge at you, because it perceives you to be weak.
Don't ever run from a dog. Your running will excite the dog to chase you.
Maintain your composure and be still. Don't shift positions. If you don't display signs of fear, the dog may lose interest. Your panic could threaten the dog or make him more aggressive in his attack.
Use a voice with authority if you speak. With a lowered vocal tone command the dog to "STOP!" "Go HOME" or "Go AWAY!" Squealing for help sounds like submissive puppy language to an aggressive dog; don't use that tone.
FIND COVER
In order to protect your hands, fold your arms tightly if you can slowly do so. Should the dog get more agitated, keep your arms lowered and your hands closed in fists to protect your fingers. It is inviting a bite to offer your arm or hand to the dog.
Place an object between the dog and your body. Whether the object is a book bag, a hat, an umbrella or a stick, an excited dog will zoom in on the object and bite it instead of you. It is best to remember that even if a dog does bite your arm, this still leaves you two legs and an arm with which to defend yourself.
Remembering to never turn your back to a dog, slowly back away and try to put something between yourself and the animal. Scan the landscape for a car, tree, or some other elevated object that you can climb onto, beyond the reach of the dog. Once you've reached this relatively safe position, shout for someone to help you.
IF YOUR PET IS ATTACKED
Don't yank the leash. By pulling on your pet, you will cause his injuries to become worse by tearing. Your dog can't defend itself if you are pulling it in the opposite direction. Release your hold on the dog leash. Study your situation. Use a weapon (if you have one) to kill the wild dog. If you aren't dealing with a pack of dogs and the one that has your animal is small enough, you may be able to beat him off with a stick. Should these things be questionable, I think you would do well to get to safety. Remaining alive is how I think you would best honor the sacrifice of your pet.
HOW TO RESCUE A CHILD OR OTHER PERSON BEING ATTACKED
End the attack using any lethal weapon or deadly force available to you.
Concentrate FIRST on getting the aggressive dog to stop. Don't make the mistake of trying to snatch the victim from the dog. The dog will increase his grip and begin to rip and tear at the victim. Force your fisted hand and arm into the dog's mouth. By prying the dog's mouth open with your own arm, you can release the victim's limb without causing further injury. Jam your fist downward into the dog's throat to reduce your potential injuries. A sharpened, walking stick can also be used to jam down the dog's throat.
Should there be a pack of dogs attacking the child, shield the child's body with your own. Position yourself face down with the child beneath you, knees bent, hands behind your neck, arms covering your face and ears. By becoming a rock, you use your body to shield the child from more harm.
WHEN A DOG ATTACKS
If you have the ability or weaponry, use them to kill the dog.
Use any object to place between the dog and yourself. Whether it's a purse, bicycle, stick, hat, jacket -- use ANYTHING that you find. Use your jacket to cover your weaker arm and offer this to the dog. Your other arm and both of your legs are then left free to affect an escape. By offering the dog your arm, he won't be pulling your legs to get you onto the ground or trying to leap at your throat.
If bitten, hold your arm so that the teeth clamp down on the sides of your forearm and wrist, protecting the soft flesh to the inside of the arm. There could be arterial damage to the wrist and forearm if the teeth hit the soft, flat flesh. Protect your fingers by keeping your hand balled into a fist.
Ward off attempts by the dogs to get you on the ground. Remain upright.
If possible, utilize a stick to deflect the attack. Thrust the stick down the throat of the dog if that doesn't work. It is possible that the dog will let go of your arm (if he has it) when you try this.
In the absence of a stick, thrust your arm into the dog's throat and push down hard. In this way, you will shut off the dog's oxygen and cause him to gag. Pulling back from a dog while your arm is in his mouth will cause greater damage to your arm.
While the dog is busy with your arm, use your other hand to dig out his eye with your thumb or slam into his throat with a sharp, decisive blow. The dog can be made to choke and pass out by shoving one arm well down the throat while placing the other arm behind the head. Use the second arm as a lever while you pull the snout up and backwards until the neck breaks. You can grab a back leg with your good arm and lift it upwards. The dog will then be forced into a submissive posture on its back. Don't release the leg, but use it to drag the dog along the ground until you are at a safer location. Take care with this tactic that you don't get knocked to the ground.
If you find yourself on the ground, be still and calm, unless the attack resumes. Should the dog continue to advance, flip onto your belly, draw your knees up to protect your throat and cover your ears with your arms. Lock your hands together across the back of your neck to protect this area. This passive posture may stop the attack.
WHEN THE ATTACK STOPS
Repeat to yourself the dog's coloring, gender, size and breed.
After washing the wounds with soap and warm water, wrap in a clean cloth and apply pressure to staunch the blood flow. Keep your wounds clean and bandaged; have your injuries examined
Warn neighbors about the danger paying particular attention to those who are elderly or who have small children. Notify authorities that there has been an attack.
FYI
I have a pet dog. She is trained and a beloved member of our household. I take good care of her with respect to her created nature. An abandoned dog will endeavor to survive by its inborn instincts. Safety lies in respecting and understanding this design.
Preparing Yourself for Dog Encounters from Hector Hernandez on Vimeo.
