It seems to me there are a couple of issues here. I don't think a shelter wants just any JoeBloe walking in one day to say "hey I'd like to help by walking your dogs". The shelter needs to know something about its volunteers though a criminal check might be a bit much. If someone has been volunteering at a shelter for some time so the staff knows them and now new policies are being put into effect, then the shelter should have some sort of informational meeting/handout for all its volunteers so they know what and why. And even when volunteers have been accepted, some mini-training should be included for handling dogs. Many shelter dogs have been abused so I wouldn't want a volunteer who grew up under the "old" system of training with spanking and collar yerking now handling a special needs dog. Actual certification for dog walkers - no - the government intrudes enough.
New dog bite law in OR
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What a nice end to the article, finding peace with a sweet basenji.
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I'm so glad that this didn't turn her off all dogs altogether, as such an incident easily could have. And it must take great strength of character not to blame the individual dog or individual owner, but to see what happened to her as a part of a larger issue to which there can be a solution.
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In Wa state, a dog with no history is excused for the first bite…
This will force folks who have dogs with issues to work to get the dog better or keep the dog home.
Course, most of the general public doesn't see "their" dogs nippping as anything but play.
Sigh.... -
No. I would not support this. What's a certified trainer? Certified by whom? What organization? What method of training would be used? After the $2,000 in fines, the person gives the dog to a shelter, where it will eventually be euthanized if not adopted, so how does the dog win?
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Burt, as far as I know this has passed and is now what will be used when any dog bites.
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It's a tragic incident for sure. It's great her B can help. I was reading the article and it said the dogs owner was startled when this woman leaned in her vehicle to hug her. Normally Great Danes are pretty low key. The dog obviously picked up on that and tried to protect her. Did I read that wrong?
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There is probably more to the story. Personally, it kind of worries me the owner is financically responsible for injuries done by a possibly not aggressive dog. I can think of a thousand scenarios where a dog is just pushed to the limit and bites…a over zealous child...and over zealous adult...a dog in mortal terror...an attacker...I mean, seriously, historically one of the reasons people own dogs is for protection...now if someone threatens you, and your dog bites them, you could be liable...seems crazy....
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This is going to be hard on the general public who often doesn't watch their dogs to see if the dog is getting stressed or scared.
Great Danes are ususally mellow dogs, but we all know any dog can bite, if pushed…
Sigh.
I understand the family wanting protection for others, but I can see many dogs being put down... -
My first Basenji did not like little kids as it was abused by little kids as a puppy. Back in 1991 the kid next door came in my front yard through my picket fence gate and my Basenji was in the front yard. He came up to the porch and was playing in the planter box dirt and Nipper bit him on the cheek. It didn't break the skin but it was red. The neighbors were very understanding in that he entered my yard.
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Sure, because but now, its never ANY ONES fault, unless you have insurance, and its ALWAYS your fault..
Kids aren't told NO, and asked, when a dog nips them, "what did you do to bother the dog".
In my day, if the dog bit you, it was always your fault, cause you were messing with him. -
And no doubt, insurance rates for people with dogs WILL go up. Because even if the person your dog bites is insured, their insurance will go after YOUR insurance…just like with car accidents.
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I live in Wa state and a family friend is an insurance agent. I asked him one time if they had breed bans or raised rates, for certain breeds.
He said, if he goes into a home, and the dog is in the house, with the family, and friendly, its all good.
If the dog is chained outside, barking its head off, that is different… -
I live in Wa state and a family friend is an insurance agent. I asked him one time if they had breed bans or raised rates, for certain breeds.
He said, if he goes into a home, and the dog is in the house, with the family, and friendly, its all good.
If the dog is chained outside, barking its head off, that is different…Right, that makes sense…but if an owner is going to be financially responsible even if the dog has never shown any inclination to bite, the insurance people will have to assume that every dog may bite, and they will have charge people accordingly. I think that most people's home owners would cover if your dog bit someone at home...but if you are out on a walk, or at a dog park...I don't know.....
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I remember being bitten by a dog when I was a child (Long ago!!). I went crying home to mother who gave me a wapping for touching a strange dog!!!
