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I just viewed this video of anchorwoman Kyle Dyer being bit in the face by a Dogo Argentine during a news segment. My heart goes out to her.

That being said as lover and owner of dogs, it must be understood that certain behavior around strange dogs or dogs you don’t know isn’t prudent.  Putting your face in a dogs face isn’t wise, period.  This need by some people to go face to face with a dog and kiss them, just doesn’t seem like a good idea no matter what size the dogs is.  

Quick story, no human got bit, but…

Sometime ago… When I used to take my dogs to the park, or to petsmart it always bugged me out how people would just walk up to my dogs. One was 135 lbs another 80 lbs and people would constantly reach out and try and pet them no matter how much I tried to avoid them. They would even go as far as to allow their children and pets to run up on the dog without asking permission.  I remember an encounter with this small dog, a toy breed.  This little dog was highly aggressive and on one of those leashes that extended.  The dog runs up to my dog and begins barking and nipping at my dog named “Furious Stylz”.  Mind you my dog is on a leash and in a “sit stay”. I repeatedly ask the owner, “Please hold your dog.”  The owner tells me “Oh he’s just being playful”.  Once again… “Please hold your dog, your dog is not being playful, but showing aggression.”  She tells me, “he’s a sweetie, that’s just how he plays.”  I can see my dog begin to “stress” a little bit and give me the “You better get this little fucker” look.  This goes on for sometime, this little dog is jumping on people, pissing off other dogs, etc.  Finally the dog returns to my dog, and is growling, nipping & acting a fool.  As my back is turned, I guess my dog had enough and knocked the little dog on it’s ass and pinned the toy breed down.  Not continuously biting or trying to really injure the dog, just a “Look little fucker…” move. The little dog begins to bark and shrill, and act like its being killed.  The owner loses it, she’s yelling and screaming about my dog and how aggressive it is and it should be put down.  I calmly explained, “listen, by law you are supposed to maintain control of your dog at all times.  I have been able to keep my dog on a leash away from all other dogs in this store. Fortunately for you, my dog has an ‘out’ command or your little dog, Napolean Bonaparte, would be dead.  I have completed all levels of obedience training with my dog, and you can’t even get your dog to sit.  I warned you more than once to control your dog. My advice to you is to get your dog a bandaid, say ‘thank you’ and get out of my face.” 

It’s funny, no one really took my side in the store because of the size of my dog.  The fact of the matter is that you are more likely to be bitten by toy breeds and medium sized dogs than you are by large dogs.  The lesson here is dogs are still dogs and owners need to be responsible, but people need to also be responsible when dealing with dogs they don’t know.  

I digress…

I hope the news anchor has a speedy recovery.  I would have never rubbed that dog’s face so vigurously or attempted to put my face in it’s face.  Furthermore this dog had just been rescued from icy cold waters the day before.  The newsroom studio lights, the rubbing, the stage and then finally someone’s phone vibrating was WAAAAY to much.  The dog may get put down, but can you really blame the dog?  Lesson: Expect dogs to be dogs and act accordingly.

(Jumps off Soap Box)

-Solar Surfer

No typos or grammatical errors, just evolved language.