Tootsie
Friday, June 12, 2009
As both a runner and a dog lover, I can understand the pleasure derived from running with your pooch. Not only is running good for you, as it turns out, it’s also good for your dog. World-renowned dog behavior specialist Cesar Millan says that you can channel your dog’s energy much faster by running. According to Millan, “Thirty minutes of running can benefit a dog more than one hour of walking. That’s because it’s faster, everything moves quicker, and they burn more energy.” Millan believes that if we all walked or ran with our dogs, it would be a different world. I would agree, if all dog owners were conscientious of those around them.
In my nine years of working at the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit, I helped remove vicious dogs from drug raids, captured feral cats from dilapidated houses, and even removed exotic cats, snakes, and caimans from inappropriate dwellings. Surprisingly, the worst animal bite I ever experienced did not happen at work, but while out on a run. Several years ago, after successfully avoiding canine jowls chomping into my limbs all day at work, I went home and headed out for a run. I spotted a woman approaching me, walking her dog on her left. Her dog appeared uncooperative and the woman wasn’t reining him in. In retrospect, I should have moved way over to my right, but instead I stayed my course. As I passed, the agitated dog leapt on top of me, knocked me down to the ground, and bit a chunk out of my thigh. The woman quickly ran off with her dog, most likely fearing a lawsuit after hearing all the expletives spewing from my mouth.
Thankfully, in my 20 years of running, an encounter such as this has only happened once. My hope would be that no one else be bitten by a dog; however, statistics show that an American has roughly a one in 60 chance of being bitten by a dog each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4.7 million people in the U.S. population are chomped annually. One out of every six of these bites is serious enough to require medical attention. Obviously, runners aren’t going to stop running and dog owners aren’t going to stop walking their dogs. However, there are steps you can take to minimize getting bit if you are a runner and there are precautions dog owners can take to prevent their dog from biting.
How to prevent a dog bite if you are a runner.
Runners are particularly at risk to dog attacks because this activity provokes a dog’s chase instinct. Randy Lockwood, PhD, of the Humane Society of the United States claims, “In their brains, dogs see themselves as wolves and the runner as a caribou or deer. There have been several cases in which two children have been chased by a dog, and one child fell while the other kept running. The dog attacked the one who kept running.” So if a dog does charge you, stop immediately. It’s easy to say, but tough to do, but try to stand still and let the dog sniff you. Don’t strike the dog or put your hand out. If the dog does attack, feed him whatever you can – your iPod, your jacket, your shirt, basically you want the dog to take something in his mouth other than your arm. If you get knocked to the ground, curl up, and cover your head and neck.
One thing to keep in mind is that as a runner, you are approaching a dog’s territory faster than they’re used to. If you are coming up from behind, make sure you don’t catch the dog unaware. The American Running Association recommends that you announce yourself when you are 50 feet away. Simply saying “coming up on your left,” should suffice.
If you see a dog that’s not leashed, since you don’t know how he’ll respond, it’s best to stop running and walk instead. Avoid eye contact with the dog, but keep him in your peripheral vision. Once you are safely past the dog, you can begin running again.
How to prevent your dog from biting a runner.
Speaking of unleashed dogs, if you’re a dog owner, leash your dog! I’m all for letting your dog run free in off-leash parks and beaches, but when you’re out for a walk with your dog where there are other people running, biking, rollerblading, etc., your dog should be on a leash both for his protection and for the protection of others. The busier the area, the less slack you should have on the leash in order to prevent any altercations between your dog and others.
Many dog trainers will teach you to walk your dog on your left. As a runner, I disagree. Instead, if you walk your dog to your right and you both stay to the right side of the sidewalk, you will be between your dog and any pedestrians who can then pass safely on the left. My dog attack may have been avoided had the woman been walking her dog to her right. Approaching me, she would have been between me and her pet and her dog may not have attacked. Walking your dog to your right is also safer for the dog. Many times I’ve seen dogs being walked on the left and speedy bicyclists coming up behind and passing on the left (as they’re supposed to) only to have the dog move out at the last moment, in which case either the bicyclist or the dog becomes injured.
It’s a good idea to practice obedience with your dog before heading out for a walk. For tips on “becoming the pack leader” with your dog, read a previous Pet Chat column independent.com/news/2008/jan/18/becoming-pack-leader/
There’s room on the sidewalks for both runners and dog walkers. Like Millan, I encourage pet owners to exercise their dogs as much as possible. As long as precautions are heeded by both runners and dog walkers, we can all get exercise without mishaps.
Tootsie
Adoptable Pet of the Week
Tootsie is a medium-haired tortoiseshell who loves attention but also enjoys solitude. This three-year-old is not a scaredy-cat and gets along with other felines, but is a bit territorial when she feels another cat is invading her space. Tootsie enjoys petting and pampering, is affectionate (on her own terms, of course) and will make a great family pet.
If you are thinking of adopting a cat or kitten, stop by the facility at 5473 Overpass Road, off Patterson Avenue, during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sundays).
For more information, call 683-3368 or go to the ASAP website at asapcats.org.
Lisa Acho Remorenko is executive director of Animal Adoption Solutions.