A Dog Bit My Child—Here’s What I Want Pet Owners To Understand

We live in a pet-friendly community.

We don’t have a pet at home, but we love pets, too. It’s fun to meet them while walking around. My daughter has dog and cat friends around the neighborhood; one of her favorites is a dog resembling Rubble from Paw Patrol.

We taught her not to be afraid of dogs, cats, and animals in general but also to exercise caution. We taught her that she can’t hurt animals, small or big. She cried once because I accidentally killed a spider inside our house. 

But to see all these learnings we built over the years crumbling in just an instant because she was attacked and bitten by a dog - it’s heartbreaking.

What Happened

No, my 4-year-old daughter was not playing with the dog that attacked her. She did not do anything to provoke any unexpected reactions from the dog. We were waiting for the elevator in our condominium lobby. We came from an event, and we were going home. I pressed the elevator button, and my daughter stood behind me, with her daddy behind her. We were not standing close to the elevator doors to give way in case people were going out. When the elevator doors opened, a small dog ran fast and went straight to my daughter. The next thing I know, my daughter is already crying and saying, “Ouchy.”

She was crying and shaking when I picked her up. That memory will haunt me forever. I can still feel my heart break. 

In the heat of the moment, when my husband demanded an explanation from the pet owner inside the elevator, we got answers like, “Eh di ba pet-friendly community tayo?” “Baka naman hindi nakagat?” “Nakikipaglaro lang yan.”

Being Pet-Friendly and Being Responsible Pet Owners

We understand pet-friendly communities. But the moment somebody gets hurt, it sheds light on what can happen when negligence is present in this community. This is not pet discrimination but a call for responsible pet ownership. Pet owners should be accountable in pet-friendly communities even if nobody gets hurt. 

The dog didn’t have a leash that day. Maybe they thought, “It was just a 2-minute elevator ride; let’s not put the leash on.” Even if they carried the dog inside the elevator, the dog could jump and run fast.

It would have been an entirely avoidable incident if the pet owner had been responsible and considerate enough. That split-second decision not to put on the dog’s leash cost a child a hurtful memory, our family’s anxiety, and our peace of mind. Not to mention the stress of bringing our child to the Emergency Room and the need to come back four times in two weeks to get Anti-Rabies shots.

Pet owners, please know your responsibilities. A pet-friendly community is also a child-friendly community. In this family-friendly community, we can walk, play, wait for the elevator, and exist without fearing that there might be another incident like this.

We need to coexist in this community. As parents teach our kids discipline, social norms, and proper behavior, please also do your part. 

Pet Owners’ Responsibilities

In the Philippines, the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act No. 9482) detailed pet owners’ responsibilities and explicitly targeted the control and eventual elimination of human and animal rabies. 

Coventus Law highlighted Section 5 of the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, listing down the pet owner’s responsibilities:

• Have your dog regularly vaccinated against rabies and maintain a registration card containing all vaccinations conducted on your dog for accurate records.
• Submit your dogs for mandatory registration.
• You must maintain control over your dog and keep it on a leash when roaming the streets or any public place.
• Be a responsible owner by providing your dog with proper grooming, adequate food, and clean shelter.
• Within 24 hours, report any dog-biting incident immediately to the concerned officials for investigation or for appropriate action, and place the dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian.
• Assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries.

“Pet ownership should not be taken lightly. Some duties come with being a pet parent that go beyond feeding pet animals every day and placing a roof above their heads,” Coventus Law added. 

Message to Pet Owners

From a parent whose child was bitten by a dog: Pet owners, again, please know your responsibilities. Aside from those mentioned by the law, know also your pet’s behavior. What triggers them? What do they feel? How can you help them feel at ease? Educate yourself on basic pet training. Know what to do in worst-case scenarios like this. Be considerate of other people in pet-friendly communities, too. 

And when the worst-case scenario happens, remember, it is our child who was hurt. And as your pet is precious to you, so is our child. 

Do you have a pet at home? Here’s what you need to know about vaccines for your children.