If a dog has bitten someone in the neighborhood, the victim might not report the bite for a variety of reasons, such as:
He may not realize that this information might help protect others. She might fear retaliation of the dog owner. He may hesitate to involve the authorities if he has a friendly relationship with the dog owner and may see the incident as a minor issue and think that the neighbor would surely contain the dog after seeing that the animal has bitten an adult or child without provocation. She may have had a bad experience with Animal Control in the past.Some dog owners may train their dogs to attack people but may not keep the animal properly secured, assuming that the dog would know the difference between someone who is trying to steal tools off the truck in the driveway and the woman pushing a baby in a stroller on the sidewalk in front of that house. That can be a dangerous and perhaps a deadly assumption.
Dogs that aren't trained to attack others may become aggressive if they become scared or feel threatened, or a canine might instinctively chase and bite someone who is jogging or riding a bicycle. Although some breeds may be known for being more naturally aggressive than others, any dog may be potentially dangerous in certain circumstances.
Dog owners may assume that their dog would never hurt anyone because it has not displayed aggressive behavior to their knowledge in the past. The animal may have attacked others previously, but the owner may be unaware that his dog has bitten others if the victim did not know the owner or location of the home of a dog.
Although common sense might dictate that someone keep their dog on their own property and out of reach of public areas, some people will only do what the law requires, which is not very much regarding dogs in many areas. Although many areas have stricter dog laws after dark, this does not help people who would like to exercise in public places.
Inexpensive Exercise Options May be Thwarted by Loose Dogs
Although various studies have shown that regular exercise may help decrease obesity rates and lead to healthier lifestyles, many people find very few suitable inexpensive exercise options, particularly those who have a limited budget. For example:
A gym membership might be too expensive for many people. Gas and vehicle prices may make it impossible to travel to a local mall, community track, or other free exercise options. Purchasing exercise equipment like a treadmill or fitness videos may also be cost prohibitive for many people.One inexpensive exercise option might be to walk, bike, or jog outside; however, many people feel unsafe when venturing beyond their own property. Dogs with an undocumented or even documented history of aggressive behavior may be allowed to roam freely within the neighborhood. Dogs with a potential for becoming vicious may only be deemed vicious after a reported attack, which might be too late for an unfortunate victim.Better Dog Laws May Improve Obesity Rates in Communities
Concerned citizens may request better dog laws but instead may find suggestions to carry pepper spray while walking with their kids, put up expensive fences around their property, or to try to make friends with the dogs that are growling and barking at them and their children. Perhaps dog laws are not a popular platform for politicians, but creating safer neighborhoods with better dog laws may benefit the overall physical fitness of a neighborhood if its citizens feel comfortable enough to exercise in public areas without the fear of being attacked.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
