BRILVILLE – The weather is getting nicer, there are lots of fenced yards, and your dog is enjoying the warm temperatures outside.
I often go to and from classic car shows and local events and often see these pet dogs outside in my yard. Every once in a while, you'll see a dog roaming freely in your neighborhood that may have escaped from its enclosure or gotten off its leash. In fact, one day I helped a young man chase a runaway dog, stopping his truck to give him a ride, and cornering the pet and putting it back on the leash. We followed the dog down the street and the young man jumped out of my passenger door when he spotted me approaching children who were reaching out to pet the dog. The young man grabbed the leash and pulled the dog away from one of the children. The dog bit the boy's hand and arm before he could secure the pet. I called 911 and waited with the boy, his friend, and a young man with his dog until help arrived. The boy's parents also arrived at the same time. They thanked me for the help and I left.
Even if a pet dog is in a fenced yard, children should never approach the animal and try to pet it on the head. Children should do their best to avoid strange dogs altogether. Dogs are naturally territorial and protective of their owners and family. I have owned many dogs over the years and know this to be true. Always remind your child to stay away from stray and domestic dogs to avoid being bitten. The safest course of action for children when encountering a dog is to ignore the dog and continue what they were doing. Never make eye contact. Some dogs consider eye contact a challenge, which can lead to aggression and aggression. Don't run away from the dog. Some dogs may chase children who run away. Ignore these dogs and continue on your way.
Dogs may seem docile and friendly at first glance. This is not always the case. The safest thing children can do is to avoid and stay away from stray and domestic dogs.
