Cops Offer Dog Safety Tips After Bite
Middletown Police Department provides tips on how to stay safe around loose dogs.
After a recent dog bite incident that occurred at Aquidneck Elementary School earlier this month, Patch spoke to the Middletown Police Department to learn how to keep yourself and your children safe from a loose dog.
The department provided the following advice:
As an adult, if you are approached by a loose dog you should:
- Stay calm.
- Stand tall with your arms at your side and do not make eye contact with the dog who may see this as a challenge.
- If you have something in your hands drop it, the dog may be interested in it.
- If you stay still and avoid eye contact, the dog may realize you are not a threat and lose interest in you.
- Never run from a dog, which will instinctively chase you.
For Children:
- The most important tip to remember is a young child should never be left alone with any dog.
- Teach children not to run or scream if approached by a strange dog.
- They should stay calm, stand still and avoid eye contact.
- Don’t approach a dog who is sleeping, eating or drinking.
If you are bitten by a dog, seek emergency treatment and contact the police department from the jurisdiction the bite occurred.
The Middletown Animal Control officer, Joseph Nunes, is available at number (401) 842-6500 x 7101
In This article
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Aquidneck Elementary School
70 Reservoir Rd, Middletown, RI -
Middletown Police Department
123 Valley Rd, Middletown, RI
Just Guessing
8:48 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
You should also wright an article highlighting the Dos and Don'ts if you want to approach a dog, even when the dog's owner is present. All too often I see small children approach dogs that are tied up in their own yard when the owner or another adult is not present. I have even had adults attempt to approach my dog tied up outside. Then they are shocked that a dog crouched down, with hair standing up on it's back, grumbling, would snap at them when they reached for the dog. Dogs are bread to protect their homes and family, they can not talk to tell you what they are thinking. No one should ever approach any dog, especially one they don't know well, without the permission and supervision of the owner.
Neil Ansucket
9:56 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
On the last line......when I see a big dog salavating and looking very ferocious.............I instinctively RUN for my life. Since they all originate from the wolf, I trust no dog, even the ankle biter. It's a man made animal imo, so I'll stick with cats.......at least I can put a band-aid on a cat bite.