THE DOG that reportedly bit a local woman pushing a stroller on Jan. 8 sits in its yard under quarantine Monday because its owner had not had it vaccinated for rabies.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Montezuma County is way ahead of the pack when it comes to animal bites, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all reported bites in Colorado in 2000 and 30 percent in 2001, state statistics show.

Whether the startling data can be attributed to living in a rural area where dogs are commonly allowed to run loose or simply good record-keeping, the problem is all too common.

Southwest Memorial Hospital workers treat animal bites on a frequent basis, according to Marc Meyer, pharmacist and infection-control practitioner for Southwest Memorial Hospital.

Out of 106 animal bites reported in the state in 2000, 41 occurred in Montezuma County, compared to two in La Plata County and just 18 in Denver. The trend stayed true in 2001, with 39 of 131 animal bites reported in Montezuma County while Denver reported 17 bites.

The bites were not broken down according to what type of animal did the biting.

Just last week in the county, a woman who was pushing her child in a stroller in a rural trailer park encountered a brown dog that charged onto the road and attacked the stroller, according to a police report.

The woman tried to get away from the dog and it bit her right foot. The woman was not injured but told police she was "scared and upset."

Deputies contacted the dog’s owner and found that the dog had not been vaccinated for rabies because, the owner stated, she did not have the money. The owner was issued a court summons for having an uninoculated pet running at large and the dog was ordered to a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

Lari Ann Pope, the animal-control officer for the Cortez Police, said she has responded to a variety of bite reports involving numerous different breeds.

"I don’t think that there is really any one specific breed that is more prone to biting," Pope commented. "I would say that there are some breeds, that if they do bite, it’s a much bigger deal. This year I’ve dealt with everything from black Labs to sharpeis to heelers, to pit bulls, and chows."

Cortez does have a leash law and requires city licenses for dogs.

The county does not have a leash law, but a state ordinance requires all pet dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies.

The county does not have an animal-control officer. Court records show that the majority of reported dog problems in the county involve dogs chasing or killing livestock.

Pope said that although many dog bites take place while a dog is running at large, just as many happen at the dog’s home.

"Most of the time when a dog is off its own personal property, it’s not nearly as aggressive as it would be on its territory," she said.

"They have more of a territorial attitude when they’re on their home ground and they’re more apt to bite. When they leave their property, they would just as soon avoid somebody as bite them — that’s just their nature."

The worst case Pope responded to recently was a boy bitten by his uncle’s black Lab.

"He was bitten pretty severely and had to have multiple stitches," Pope said.

In such a case, the dog’s owner would likely face the charge of keeping a vicious animal and the animal would be quarantined.

"If a person were found guilty of having a vicious animal or pleaded guilty to it, then the judge assigns a fine," Pope explained.

"Additionally, any cat, dog or ferret that has bitten a human must be quarantined for a period of 10 days whether they are vaccinated for rabies or not. It’s really up to the officer’s discretion if the animal will be impounded for that time or to do a home quarantine. If it’s an impound situation, the owner is given the option of the animal shelter, a boarding facility or a vet clinic."

However, many bites go unreported if a person does not go to the hospital for treatment.

Pope said there are some safety measures people can take to prevent injury if they encounter an aggressive animal.

"What I tell children is that if they come into contact or they believe they are going to be bitten by a dog, what they need to do is stand very still with their arms at their side and move slowly backwards away from the dog’s perceived territory. And if a bite is imminent, they should hold something out in between themselves and the animal such as a backpack or a purse and let them bite that rather than somebody’s body.

"Never run or scream and don’t make direct eye contact with an aggressive animal because they see that as a threat."