USA : Friday, 7 January 2011 (Local Time)
Over the past month, Beaufort County Animal Control in North Carolina has dealt with a series of situations involving aggressive pit bulls, reportedly all strays. No one was hurt in any of these cases, but one dog did charge an officer. Sun City neighbors are warned to be on guard, because at least one pit bull roaming the area has not been caught.
While we'd like to think all potential pets out there are just looking for love and affection, truth is some of them have a history of aggression. And despite popular belief, Beaufort County Animal Shelter Director Toni Lytton says it's not based on the breed.
"Any dog can be aggressive, from the ankle biters all the way up to Great Danes,” Lytton said.
So how do you recognize if a dog is dangerous? Lytton says there are some telling signs.
"They stare at you, their tail goes up, their hair goes up on their back, they charge you,” she said.
And you have to act quickly to stay safe.
"First of all, don't turn your back on the animal. Second, I would freeze. If the animal continues, use a stern voice like, ‘Hey!’ or ‘Stop!” she said.
It might be instinct to try to run away, but that's when it usually gets ugly. It's key to let the dog know you're the one in control. And if none of those tactics work, Lytton says actually shove your hand down the dog’s throat. Do not grab it by its neck.
"If you try to grab its neck or stop a dog from jumping up on you, you're not as strong as the dog,” Lytton said. “Especially if it's a full size pit bull or Rottweiler, you're not going to have enough strength to control the dog. They're going to take you over."
Even though she said never run away from an aggressive dog, Lytton says it may be a different story if you're on a bicycle. She says there have been cases of people being bitten while biking, but if you're on wheels you might be able to outrun the dog.
Story and Foto from : www2.wsav.com (reported by Holly Bounds)
