I am a very passionate animal-lover. Whenever I see a cat or dog on the street–by itself or with its owners–my first hope it to be able to pet it and handle it. Of course, as I have gotten older, I have learned to exercise a great degree of caution around unknown animals.

However, sometimes even caution and common sense are not going to save you from an animal bite. There are times when animals attack needlessly or because they are protective, afraid, or possibly diseased. So if you find yourself traumatized in the wake of an unexpected dog bite, what should you do?

First, try to calm down enough to create a mental sketch of the attacking dog. If the dog attacked you and then began fleeing, don’t run after it–allow it to leave, or else it may continue the attack. Some think that a dog that bites and then runs is usually a stray, but it is possible that it escaped from a local’s yard or home.

If you recognize it as being a certain breed, make a mental note (or write it down if you can), but if not, try to remember specific distinguishing features. Then call your local animal control services as soon as possible.

Clean the wound as best you can with soap and water and stem the flow of blood if necessary. Then seek additional medical attention, even if the bite seems minor. You do not know what kind of diseases may be transmitted through the dog bite; furthermore, many untreated bites become infected.

Call the regional health department to report the incident to them. If the dog is registered, they should be able to tell you the status of the dog’s vaccinations. If the dog turns out to be a stray, however, you will need to go through rabies treatments. Trust me–it will be for your own good.

Next, call both animal control and the police department to report the attack to them. Be sure to give a detailed account, but don’t embellish it. If you are able to locate the owner of the dog, obtain their contact information. If you plan on pressing charges, take pictures of the wound from the very beginning.

Then consult an attorney if you feel you were wrongfully attacked. But be honest with yourself about the situation.

Unfortunately, one of our dogs bit a close family friend because this dog was particularly protective of my mother, and the friend moved in very quickly for a hug. The dog perceived this as a threatening gesture and bit her. The bite was not serious, so she opted not to pursue legal action. So, you need to judge the circumstances carefully.

To avoid future problems, do not approach stray dogs, and if they approach you, do not run. Allow the dog to sniff you out, and do not make any sudden movements. Teach your children to do the same, as kids are typically the victims of dog bites because they are not taught how to act around dogs from an early age.

Law Office of Nelson C. Barry III (http://www.nelsonbarry.com/)is a San Francisco attorney specializing in representing plaintiffs in civil litigation, mediation and arbitration. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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