AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY
I get dispatched to a local immediate car center to take a dog bite report from a UPS driver.
I get there and the wound is very minor. It only amounted to a few scratches, but per the code, it broke the skin so I need to take a report.
The UPS driver went to the residence and was face to face with the homeowner talking. The dog was standing along side them on the drivers left side.
When the driver handed the owner a package the average size Great Dane nipped his left side. Thats it. But a nip from a Dane can be serious. The bite was at 10am and its 7:30 now.
I get the info I need and go to the residence. A nice place in a wooded area thats well lit.
I go up the ramp to the deck and the front door with a can of pepper spray in hand. Ding Dong, nothing. Knock, Knock and missile lock. Here comes a Great Dane that does not want a cookie.
The dog gets within 5 and stops. Pepper is aimed but she doesnt do anything. Now shes like a typical couch potato Great Dane wagging her tail.
Then with out a hint she takes a bite. A good blast of pepper gets her to let go and move away. Now the problem is she is between me and my car, at the other end of the ramp.
She is shaking off the spray when she charges me. Again I spray her and she stops. Over and over again.
I try kicking in the front door, which is rock solid. I need that door between that dog and me but it wont open.
Ive got enough for one more spray and then its the 45 but back up got there and distracted her long enough for me to get clear.
Once animal control arrived we tried to TAZE her but getting both prongs into a skinny dog is tough.
Then catch pole time. Three of them, 5 of us and she threw all of us around for a while. None of us have ever seen a Dane go wild like she has.
We finally get her into the AC truck and I go to the hospital. Those clowns, everyone barked at me, even the doc's.
Thank god for my cop style notebook in my back pocket and keys and a knife in my front pocket. They all worked together to lessen the bite.
I ended up with around 10 puncture wounds right at the base of my butt. The front of my leg has some major bruising and hurts like I got caught in a vice.
It was about two hours later when we get a hold of the owners. They felt real bad about the incident and said they were planning on putting her down in the next few days. She is almost 10 years old, which is very old for a Great Dane. Over the past three months she has been acting weird and they didnt trust her very far.
They were very apologetic and wanted to know what they could do. Seeing how they were very nice and had a good attitude, I jokingly said you could kiss the wound and make it better but Ill have my Lt. do that.
The Lt. even got a chuckle but no results yet.
I should be dry for a couple of weeks but it its an emergency Ill still go. We can clean it up again, no big deal.
About shooting the dog. I have a real problem shooting a dog unless its absolutely necessary. 99% of the time its not the dogs fault but an A-hole owner who I dont have a problem shooting. It just seems that the dog is the innocent victim most of the time.
There arent many mean dogs by nature. There are a lot of mean people out there that have the power of choice. They just seem to make the wrong one most of the time.
I went right back to work and worked last night as well. Last night I had a reserve with me just in case. If I don't keep moving I stove up real tight. Better safe than sorry.
Gary D.