I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I thought FML readers would be
interested in knowing about our experience with a dog bite incident, and how
differently it was handled compared to ferret bite incidents.  Two weeks
ago, our dog bit the Avon lady while we were staying at my parents' house
during my father's hospitalization.  My dad had life-threatening
complications after his surgery; our dog probably realized that we were very
upset and, unfortunately, overreacted to a stranger.  His canine teeth make
deep punctures in her arm.  They bled a lot so we accompanied her to the
emergency room, where she got seven stitches.  We were asked at the
emergency room about our dog's vaccination status; we said he was up-to-date
on his rabies shots, but we did not have proof with us.  (We were in New
Jersey, three hours from home.) We were home 2 days later, and our
veterinarian here in Maryland advised us to get an exam and health
certificate right away and again in ten days, in case they were demanded.  I
just took Lupi for his second exam today.  What has amazed me about this is
that we never heard from the health department in New Jersey, even though we
did not present proof of vaccination, even though there were deep puncture
wounds.  My vet confirmed today that she had not been called either.  I did
mail the injured woman a photocopy of the health certificate and a
vaccination certificate signed by our vet.  She would have received these in
the mail 5 or 6 days after the bite.  I don't know whether she may have been
in contact with the health department.  I am just very amazed at the health
department's nonchalance about a dog bite compared to the notorious
overreaction to ferret bites.  It is truly amazing that our dog bit someone,
she had to go to the emergency room, yet we were not asked to verify his
vaccination status or his health.  Yet if one of our ferrets bit someone and
broke the skin a tiny bit, a vaccination certificate and health certificates
would not be enough to save the ferret's life.  It just doesn't make sense
at all.
 
Clare Sebok
[Posted in FML issue 1649]