Husky bit Colorado woman's face and handler fled, video shows. Victim needed surgery.

[dalton99a]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article216862805.html
Husky bit Colorado woman’s face and handler fled, video shows. Victim needed surgery.
By Jared Gilmour
August 16, 2018 09:43 PM

It was a split-second attack — but the dog-bite injuries were so severe the victim needed surgery, and may need several more, according to Colorado authorities.

Just before the attack, the black-and-white husky had been milling about the patio of a restaurant in Arvada, Colorado, video shows. A blonde woman who appears be the dog’s owner is seated on the patio with two men around 7 p.m. on Aug. 7, police said.

Another woman on the patio pets the dog for a few moments, and then suddenly the dog lunges for the woman and bites her face, video shows. The woman’s hair flies and she immediately grabs her face with her hands.

The bite left the woman with “serious injuries,” according to police.

Workers at the restaurant and the bite victim’s boyfriend helped her, police said. But after briefly looking at the victim’s face, the woman who appears to own the dog leaves the restaurant patio with her dog, video shows.

After the attack, the injured woman, who was not identified by police, needed eye surgery, police said. She also could need follow-up operations down the road.

The woman who left with the dog didn’t give anyone at the restaurant her information before leaving, according to police.

Arvada authorities released video of the incident (which they said “may be disturbing to some viewers”) in hopes of identifying the woman and the two men who were seated with her, police said.

[whathehell]

1. Totally irresponsible behavior on part of dog owner..

I hope she's found and held accountable.

[Drahthaardogs]

8. Not entirely.

People need to quit petting strange dogs. Where did this bullshit come from? I see people going up and hugging strange dogs. - just like this lady did. It is a testament to these creatures that more are not bitten.

[djg21]

43. It's up to the owner to say "no

If you own a dog, you’re responsible. That is the simple truth. My Golden Retrievers might at best slobber someone to death and expect attention from everyone they come into contact with. But I still expect people not to approach without asking for permission, and I get very frustrated when people take it upon themselves to approach my dogs, and even worse, invite my dogs to jump up. I know these people have good intentions, but I strive to train my dogs and want to control their interactions with other people and other animals. All I need is to have one of my 65lb dogs knock over a senior citizen, or go to take a toy from a young child and inadvertently bite the child’s hand. Neither of my dogs intentionally would hurt a fly (though my 1 year old puppy chases after butterflies). But it still would be my fault if they somehow hurt someone. They are my dogs and I am responsible for them.

The dog owner in the video should be arrested. It was not the dog’s fault. The dog was being a dog, and Huskies can be territorial and protective to the point of being aggressive. Something clearly spooked the dog. Maybe a sound the woman was making before she was bitten? It’s unclear from the video. But the women seemingly was in a place of public accommodation. The dog owner should not have had her dog there if she couldn’t control it, and the dog should not have been off-leash or allowed to interact with unknown people without supervision.

If the dog owner stayed at the scene, she likely would have been civilly liable for medical expenses and damages, if any. By leaving the scene, the dog owner likely committed a crime. She should be prosecuted. She should never be allowed to own a companion animal again.

[whathehell]

54. Entirely..

Mot necessarily for bringing the dog, but for fleeing after it happened.

[Drahthaardogs]

57. Dog hugger has some blame here too.

Don't interact with animals if you don't know how to do it safely

[whathehell]

58. That's a very harsh and judgemental response in my view...

It's not like she stuck her hand in the lion's cage at a zoo.

[Drahthaardogs]

60. As far as the dog is concerned, that's exactly what she did.

Why do Americans insist every dog must act like a golden retriever?

Go to Europe. You will see dogs everywhere, and many of them are much sharper than their American counterparts. No one would dare hug a strange dog in Germany.

However, on the flip side, in Germany, that dog would have been put on a down under the table.

All around FAIL.

[whathehell]

63. Dogs are domesticated animals -- not "wildlife" caged in zoos

Those owning animals more like the latter than the former, are responsible for their behavior, especially if they're so reckless as to take them to public places.

[elfin]

28. Yes.

Didn't watch the vid, but assuming she didn't have the dog on a very short leash and didn't dissuade someone from approaching it.

I have a very friendly dog, but especially when there are kids around, I always intervene and manage any contact between my dog and the curious kid. Even adults. The most friendly dog can be spooked by a sudden movement and then act contrary to its expected sweet behavior.

[mopinko]

2. i'd wager this isnt the first bite.

when your reaction is to boogie on, and not check on the damage, i'm bettin you've been there before. and you, apparently, shuffle your friends out too...
unless you are a stone cold asshole, which could be.

[spinbaby]

11. You're probably right

Some dogs are just not reliable enough to go out among strangers. Earlier today I saw someone with a Russian wolfhound—huge dog—on a leash in a busy shopping area. The dog looked fearful and was absolutely trouble waiting to happen.

[mopinko]

22. every dog gets one bite.

i believe it is pet law in most places that a first bite the dog gets the benefit of the doubt, unless it is a serious attack.
but the second bite- trouble. big trouble.

if the dog already bit someone, you have to be a special kind of asshole to let it wander around w strange people.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Any dog, any time. Even happy, well-adjusted dogs have a limit. This one was clearly feeling

skeptical of its surroundings, and then people towered over it and put their faces in its face. Sad all around.

[Ms. Toad]

5. i agree it is sad all around.

But I don't read the dog's behavior as skeptical. It seems to me like an older dog (moving slowly/gingerly), but enjoying being petted, at least.

That said, putting your face in the face of a dog you don't know is assinine.

[Drahthaardogs]

9. She hugged that dog.

The man was towering over it. It was a quick bite. I don't do that with my own dogs. They demand respect and one ( the happiest and most people friendly) does not like her head touched.

[Ms. Toad]

10. I'm not addressing the (inappropriate) human behavior

I ws responding to the assertion that the dog was "clearly feeling skeptical of its surroundings." I didn't read the dog's behavior (prior to the bite) that way.

The dog seemed to be responding positively to the attention, and seeking more (when the first stopped petting it, moving on to another new person looking for more). It did look to be an older dog (moving gingerly - but not because of an emotional reaction, but because of physical pain/discomfort).

[Drahthaardogs]

17. Sh grabbed it's head with both hands, it bit

It was a defensive bite, not an agressive bite. I have little sympathy. The only thing that bothers me is the dog could have warned her first.

[pnwmom]

13. It looked to me like the dog approached her at face level. She responded,

and then he suddenly attacked.

[Ms. Toad]

16. I agree - the dog seemed to be wandering from erson to person

seeking attention. But for the caption of the thread/article, until the bite, it seemed to be a dog wandering among people it knew and trusted. I didn't see a trigger for the bite (or a warning that it was coming).

But, as others have pointed out, one should neve stick one's face within biting range of an unknown dog.

[pnwmom]

18. True, one shouldn't. But this dog appeared to stick his face in the woman's face,

and she responded in a calm, friendly manner.

That dog needs to be evaluated by a vet and the owner needs to be held responsible.

[Ms. Toad]

24. I said nothing about who should be held responsible.

But anyone interacting with a dog they do not know needs to behave in a way that keeps them as safe as possible - whether or not the owner is nearby, and whether or not the dog even has an owner.

Making that observation is no different than observing that a person who was shocked after sticking an uninsulated metal object into an electrical should not have done so. People have sophisticated brains; neither electrical outlets nor dogs do. That means people have to be smart about their interactions with both.

I'm not going to stick an uninsulated metal object into an electrical outlet - even if I know it was negligently wired and much more dangerous than usual (and I might be able to stick someone else with my funeral costs) - because it is a dangerous idea to stick an uninsulated metal object into ANY electrical outlet. Same with a strange dog - it is a dangerous idea to stick my face in the face of a dog I don't know - even if it ultimately turns out the owner knew about the dangerous propensities of the dog (or you are in a state where owners are liable for all bites).

You seem to be equating engaging in inherently risky behavior vis-a-vis an animal, with situations in which the blame for choices made by human attacker's are shifted to the victim. This is not that scenario.

[Drahthaardogs]

19. She stupidly wrapped both hands around that dogs head

And stared it in the eyes. Her own damned fault. Not every dog is a Maltese. The dogs owner is irresponsible as well. She should have never let the dog get put into that situation. I work very hard with my dogs to be "people neutral". I neither want them aggressive not seeking people attention. I want them to see strangers like furniture. You would be surprised the reaction I get from people when I tell them not to touch my dog.

[pnwmom]

14. The woman who was attacked was sitting. And he didn't seem skeptical of her -- he approached her

in a friendly way, and she responded. All of a sudden he attacked.

[tblue37]

6. If the victim looked straight into the dog's eyes while letting him, he might have felt threatened

or challenged. It is the owner's responsibility to not put her dog into such a situation in the first place.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. I was taught you never put your face close to a strange dog.

Esp. not to lean over its head.

[pnwmom]

12. Lots of victim blaming here. The fact is that someone had her dog in a public place

and that dog seriously bit someone else, and then the owner took the dog away without leaving any contact info.

The dog owner is responsible and I hope they find her.

[Captain Stern]

20. That's pretty much it.

The woman that got bit didn't do anything wrong.

The woman that owns the dog did.

[Drahthaardogs]

30. She did EVERYTHING wrong.

But I agree the dogs owner is just as dumb as the lady that got bit.

[Captain Stern]

38. No, she didn't.

What she did was sit in a restaurant and pet a dog while the dog's owner looked on, and didn't appear to have a single problem with what she was doing.

It's not reasonable to expect everybody that wants to go out and eat to be the damn Dog Whisperer.

[Drahthaardogs]

39. Really? Do tell what she did right.

I expect people to not grab my dog with both hands by their head, stare into their eyes, while their husband towers over the top. Just like I expect people to not walk behind my horse.

But the owner is indeed a douche for putting her dog in the situation. The victim here is the poor dog who gets blamed from the stupid owner and stupid friend

[Captain Stern]

41. Your expectations are unreasonable.

You're expecting every other person out there to know as much about dogs as you do. Most of us don't, and it's not incumbent upon us to learn either.

I love animals as much as anyone, and I don't really blame the dog. I blame the dog's owner. But, to say that the dog is the victim is just preposterous.

The victim is the person that got bit in the face, and needed surgery, and probably additional surgeries. That's the victim....not the dog.

[Drahthaardogs]

42. No They are fucking common sense

Just like this bullshit the humane society does when they put a fake hand in the dog's bowl while it's eating, and if the dog bites, it's euthanized.

I grew up on a ranch and we all knew you don't touch a dog while it's eating. My dad would have had a fit if I did that. That woman was an idiot. You don't shove your face into a strange dog's face. You don't need to be Cesesr fucking Milan to know that.

That's not unreasonable. It's called being responsible. The dog is the victim here. Two dumbass people put it in a bad way.

[Captain Stern]

45. No, those things aren't 'common sense'.

If those things were 'common sense', then most people would know them, and act accordingly.

Believe it or not, most people didn't grow up on a ranch, and even more shockingly...most people don't own a dog. So, I don't think the woman that was bitten did anything unreasonable. It's not like she got up out of her chair, and went and grabbed the dog.....the dog came up to her, and the owner didn't appear to say, or do, anything that would make the lady think there was some sort of problem.

I think we agree that the owner did the wrong thing, but it baffles me that you think the dog is the victim here, rather than the person that got bitten in the face.

[Drahthaardogs]

46. The dog disagreed.

If you are going to be handling dogs, you should know a little something. If you walked behind my horse and got kicked, whose fault is it? Horses have a blind spot and are prey creatures. Is it the horses fault or your fault for not knowing enough to responsibly handle a horse?

The argument that you put forth is that the woman did nothing wrong because she didn't know better. That's ridiculous. She hugged a strange dog while her husband towered over the top of it. All signs of dominance in dog body language. She got bit in the face for her stupidity and I have no sympathy.

Your mentality is why pit bulls are out there killing kids. Stupid fucking people go "oh, it's all in how you raise them.". Bullshit. It's in their Gene's. They are a terrier with high prey drive. Just like a malinois, they are not fir everyone to own.

And don't tell me it's not possible because Germans like their dogs a little sharper and you can walk down a street in Berlin and see a dog laying next to it's owner. Germans are not stupid enough to go run up and hug it

[Captain Stern]

48. But the woman wasn't handling dogs. She was just sitting at a restaurant.

If I came up behind your horse on your property, and got kicked, it would be my fault. If I started to walk up to your horse from behind on public property, and you said "Don't do that, the horse might kick you", but I did anyway, and got kicked..it would be my fault. However, if you brought a horse to a restaurant, and the horse's backside was to me, and you didn't tell me I shouldn't touch it...then that is 100% on you. And if I got kicked in the face, I would be the victim..not the horse.

It wasn't this woman's responsibility to know, or understand, dog body language. That's the actual dog owner's responsibility.

Your example about Pit Bulls killing kids actually supports my point. In that case, you aren't blaming the kids that are killed, but are saying that it's the fault of the owners of the dogs. Unless, of course, you're saying those kids didn't use common sense, which I don't think you are saying.

Yet, in this case, you saying that the person that got bit is somehow not a victim.

The person in charge of the dog in this case has been identified:

https://patch.com/colorado/arvada/dog-bite-video-arvada-restaurant-patio-gets-quick-response

I guess we'll see how this plays out. I'm guessing that if this comes down to a civil trial, the person that got bitten in the face is going to be considered the victim.

[Drahthaardogs]

49. Don't mess with things you don't understand

God, this mentality is exactly what is wrong. I get drunk and drive, it's the bars fault. I hug a strange dog and get bit, it's the dogs fault.

In this case, the dog owner is very much at fault, BUT that lady is stupid. She CHOSE to improperly interact with the dog. You keep saying that she did nothing. She chose to HUG that dog. She took the risk. She did not know that dog. She could have ignored it, put her hand out to let the dog smell it. Instead, she grabbed the dogs head with both hands while her husband leaned over the top. That was a defensive bite. She CORNERED that dog. She bares some responsibility as well.

Are you a millennial?

[Captain Stern]

50. No, I'm not a millennial.

However, I wouldn't be ashamed to admit if I was.

Most of the millennials that I know are pretty smart, capable, people.

Why, I'd even wager that most of them would realize that a woman that was sitting in a chair, didn't "corner" a dog that walked up to her.

[Drahthaardogs]

51. That's NOT what happened.

That dog did not run up and bite her. She grabbed that dogs head in both hands, shoved her face in his face, and stared in his eyes, while her also stupid husband bent over the top.

It's all there to see and it's pretty much a what-not-to-do with a strange dog.

Once, I was traveling with my dog. I was in the airport, put her in a down next to my chair while I went to sleep. I awoke to a roar and a scream. Another intelligent "dog lover" decided it was smart to try and get my dog while I slept.

Was that my fault too? The dog's fault? Or the stupid lady who decided to just come over and pet a dog watching her sleeping master

[ecstatic]

61. What if the victim has special needs?

Still her fault?

[Drahthaardogs]

62. Lol, what if the sky falls????

Seriously?

[djg21]

44. Then don't bring your dog to places

Where people might grab your dog with both hands by the head. Dogs, no matter how well trained, can be unpredictable when faced with unfamiliar stimuli or people or when they feel threatened. They are dogs. Many people are dumber than dogs and do very stupid things. It is your responsibility as a dog owner to protect your dog from these people. The owner was out of line, and should have kept her dog restrained and/or in control at all times. The fact that this incident happed is in itself evidence that the dog owner was negligent. Res ipsa loquitor.

[Drahthaardogs]

47. How about people NOT hugging strange dogs?

This dog is the victim of two very stupid people.

[TubbersUK]

26. Exactly n/t

[Drahthaardogs]

29. Victim blaming????

How about being a dumbass and putting both hands around a strange dogs head while your boyfriend towers over the dog. Just like walking behind a horse and getting kicked. She fucked up and paid the price. It's not the dogs fault.

[Iggo]

31. .

[pnwmom]

32. She was sitting there, watching other people do much worse than she did without any reaction

from the dog.

Then the dog walked up to her at her face level and she petted him -- until he attacked her without warning.

This dog needs to be examined by a vet for behavioral issues, and to make sure its rabies shots are up to date.

[Drahthaardogs]

35. You don't even know what you are seeing. I train dogs professionally.

She fucked up. Grabs the dogs head with both hands while boyfriend towers over. Dog had no escape route. That was a defensive bite.

DON'T HUG your dog! Most tolerate it but really don't like it. A few like it.

[whathehell]

55. The owner was irresponsible for RUNNING AWAY after her dog attavked

The rest is debatable.

[Drahthaardogs]

56. Whose debating what happened AFTER?

The owner is a twit, but so is the lady who got bit.

[whathehell]

59. We are.

[milestogo]

15. Yeah, dogs at restaurants is not a great idea.

[ProudLib72]

21. There is a restaurant here in Boulder that banned dogs from its patio recently

And I have to imagine it was for similar reasons.

Someone else can chime in on this, but I believe the restaurant can be held accountable to an extent.

[mopinko]

23. they would be in chi. and yeah, dogs are banned from restaurants here.

even w/o the bites. i took my 2 little dogs w me to a patio place once (it used to be legal) and they were fine the whole time. they greeted a few people at first, then settled in at my feet and stayed there. just fine.
then i got up and went to the bathroom. tho my hubs had their leashes, they freaked out and upended our table.

needless to say, we left a big tip.

dog, food and strangers is a bad mix for a whole lot of reasons.

[gyroscope]

25. Huskies are very wolf like dogs

not the kind of dog you want to go up and pet when you are a stranger to them.

I wouldn't pet a strange dog but if I did it would be one of the friendlier breeds such as a labrador or golden retriever. But I would never put my face up to the dog's face.

Petting a strange husky, doberman, German shepard, Rottweiler, pit bull, etc is just plain dumb.

[pnwmom]

33. But it is the responsibility of the dog owner to know his dog's limits -- not to expect strangers

to know how to handle themselves around the owner's dog.

[gyroscope]

37. Absolutely

a potentially dangerous dog should be muzzled especially in a restaurant where people will be in close proximity to the dog. the restaurant could also be liable if it allowed the dog to be there.

[pnwmom]

40. The only dog I know that bit someone in the face was that same breed.

The dog bit a child who was at face level -- a five year old, who was quietly approaching the dog with a few other children. The owner had had no idea that a female dog who seemed so sweet could lash out like that. After that, they never let her near anyone's child, and they put a muzzle on it in public.

They were lucky the injury wasn't worse than it was, and that they didn't get sued.

[leftyladyfrommo]

27. That is the owner's fault.

A dog like that should never be out in public. Or it should always have a muzzle on.

People here in KCMO take their dogs to all kinds of inappropriate places. They don't belong in restaurants or art shows or fireworks displays. Dogs are miserable when they get stuck at most public places. Leave them at home where they are safe.

[pnwmom]

34. I agree. n/t

[Iggo]

36. Absolutely. (n/t)

[phylny]

52. Two weeks ago, I was bitten on my upper thigh - basically near my ass - by a dog.

I am an early intervention speech-language pathologist and I visit people's homes. I'd been to this particular home many times. The family has four German shepherds. A few months ago, the service coordinator for this family had been "nipped" and she told the family the dogs had to be put away when we came.

So, this particular day I told them I was arriving at 10:30 and I did. All four dogs were in the yard behind a fence. I waited for the family, didn't open the gate, because the dogs were barking furiously. The man and woman came out and he tried, unsuccessfully, to put a lead around one of the dog's heads. They tried for about three minutes to contain the dogs and were not successful. The woman said, "Just come on in." Stupidly, I did. Got bitten. "Which one bit you??" I don't know, I was bitten behind me as I walked.

It was the family's fault, for sure, but really, I was stupid for walking in. I really knew better. I just felt like I didn't want to be impolite to the family. Fortunately, I'm only left with a bruise. The dog bite didn't rip my pants or break the skin.

So now, we'll meet at the library.

[Jake Stern]

53. Found the coward

Now to sue her into penury. At least it prompted the establishment to put a stop to people having Fido on the patio.

[link:https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/08/17/dog-bite-arvada-rockabilies/|