The incident occurred on Friday, July 1, in Raciborowice Górne. In the evening, a woman was bitten by a dog. However, as the Bolesławiec police report, the injured woman did not want medical assistance.

The dog’s owner was fined PLN 250.

How do such cases end?

– In many cases, these interventions end with a fine being imposed on the owners of dogs – officers from the Warsaw Metropolitan Police Headquarters report. (In Warsaw alone, there are nearly 1,000 such reports every year.)

They add:

There are, however, cases when an aggressive dog, taken for a walk without a leash or left unattended on an inadequately secured property, attacks and severely bites a person. The matter then becomes more serious. The owner of the dog may face criminal liability for unintentionally exposing a person to the direct danger of serious bodily harm. Such cases also occur in Warsaw and the surrounding area.

Police: – Many such unpleasant situations could be avoided. We should remember that a dog never attacks without provocation. Provocation may be our direct behavior, such as teasing the dog, taking away its food or toys, or wrestling with it. An attack is also often caused by the improper way in which the dog was raised and a lack of appropriate care. Or by the fact that it had bad experiences in contact with people.

They add:

Let us remember that before an aggressive dog attacks, it sends warning signals: it often has raised fur, flattened ears, stiff legs and a raised tail; it growls, barks, shows its teeth and jumps around the person it is cornering.

How should you behave in the event of a dog attack?

Here are some basic rules:

  • Stand still; do not run away. (A dog has an instinct to chase and catch its prey—it is, after all, descended from the wolf.)
  • Do not look the dog in the eyes.
  • Do not show fear.
  • Do not turn your back, especially if the dog is large, because if it jumps at you, it may knock you over.
  • Stand sideways to the dog, with your legs slightly apart; this will help you maintain your balance.
  • Try to assume the turtle position; you will protect the parts of your body that dogs usually bite.

Based on the information reaching us, situations of this kind are not uncommon in our county. Where is it most dangerous? We invite you to join the discussion.

(Illustrative photo).