I read a story today about an NBC newswoman who had to undergo facial surgery due to being bit by a dog on set during a “feel good” segment. The dog has been quarantined for 10 days by animal control. They better not hurt that dog. I’m assuming it is a rabies quarantine. And the owner, who the news station asked to bring the dog, gets a ticket for “allowing the dog to bite.” Umm.
Don’t get me wrong, I hope the woman is OK and her face is fine, I’ve been bit before and it frackin’ hurts. And let’s be clear – if that dog wanted to savage her, she would have no face left. The dog bit her in a reaction to make her get away. It was her own STUPID fault. Here is a dog who just went through a traumatic experience (had to be rescued from ice, etc.), was now on a crowded, highly lit and probably hectic set and the woman bends down and puts her face right in the dog’s face. She clearly knows nothing about dogs. Which would seem not to be true since they do these feel good segments regularly apparently.
But anyone who knows anything about dogs should know not to get in the face when they are experiencing any kind of stress or stressful situation. And you are a stranger to them. DUH!? People come up to pretty much every single day and ask to pet the huskies. And if they just want to pet their backs or heads, fine. But the people whose kids come running up to them, and who are basically on eye level with them, I have to go through the whole teaching experience of how to properly approach and pet dogs. Mind you, 9 times of 10 the parents don’t do that. Or even say “Ask first.” A few have – which is nice but mostly nope.
And the huskies are sooooo well mannered and gentle., But guess what? If they feel threatened in a weird way or some kind of stressor (someone walks by with a growly dog, etc.) they can react. And frankly, they are also really good judges of character and might want nothing to do with you. They have successfully picked out the bad employees at work. They are also huskies and generally want nothing to do with people who aren’t in their pack. But I just don’t let people come up and put their faces in theirs. Ever.
And of course the dog in the story is a mastiff who already get this mean/bad reputation since people use them as guard dogs. And they are HUGE. So really…you thought it was wise to get in his face?
Again. I am not shocked but simply annoyed by the never-ending stupidity.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/rescued-dog-bites-nbc-anchor-face-during-feel-141755422.html
