Stamford Animal Reports: A Bark to Match the Bite

Dog bites are up in Stamford, Animal Care & Control Shelter Officer Tilford Cobb said this past week. 

"It's just this time of year. It never fails," Cobb said, then displayed reports on four dog bite incidents and two dog-versus-dog incidents in the past week alone. 

One of those incidents was 10-year-old girl was bitten on the face at a Barnstable Lane home, Cobb said. The dog was left with the family after the mother's boyfriend was incarcerated.

Cobb said the dog was reportedly at the home for about a month prior to the incident, though records indicated animal control has responded to the same address previously, though Cobb said he couldn't confirm if the incidents had been related to the same animal. 

The girl was taken to Stamford Hospital and being treated for puncture wounds to her face, so there were no additional details available yet on what occurred that may have caused the animal to bite. The dog is currently being held in the home in an on-site quarantine. 

"My first piece of advice is, before putting your dog out, if you're using an invisible fence, make sure it's working," Cobb said. "Make sure the batteries are working, make sure the fence isn't down."

Cobb said part of the reason this time of the year for increased bites is that pets have accumulated a lot of energy from long winter months where their activities may have been restricted far more than the warmer time of the year. 

"The dogs have been cooped-up all day during the winter," he said. "They're getting out for longer periods of time now and they're excited. You've got to make sure you're monitoring your dog."

 Cobb additionally added that, when owners take their pets out on walks, they should be sure to use the most appropriate equipment available for the situation. 

"One of the incidents involved a dog on a flexi-leash, one of those retractable leashes. He just ran to the end and it popped. I don't recommend those types of leashes," he said.

He also warned pet owners about dogs being put outside for extended periods of time without proper supervision that may become a nuisance to neighbors. A $75 dollar fine can be imposed for barking dogs, and each subsequent ticket is a mandatory court appearance. 

"People putting out their dogs for longer times should know they can end up before a judge if we repeatedly determine the dog is being a nuisance to the neighborhood," he said.