What should I do if a dog bites me in Redondo Beach?

• Retreat to a safe position.
• Seek immediate medical aid as necessary.
• You may call for paramedic and police services at (310) 379-5411.
• Identify the home of the dog, or keep the dog in sight if it is a stray (and you or someone is able.)
• File a dog bite report with the police department.
• During daytime hours an Animal Services officer or police officer may respond.
• During nighttime hours a police officer will respond.
• If a police officer or animal services officer completes a report, they will obtain information regarding the dog's owner and the dog.
• If you do not request the assistance of a police officer or animal services officer you should obtain rabies vaccination information for the dog and the name, address and insurance information from the dog owner.

What actions does Animal Services take if I report that a dog has bitten me?

• Animal Services and/or police personnel will:
  • Complete the initial dog bite report.
  • Investigate the circumstances of the incident.
  • Determine the rabies vaccination status of the dog.
  • Report the bite to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which will determine the need to quarantine the dog. 

How do I get a copy of a dog bite report? 

Visit the Records Unit webpage on this police department's website regarding the release of crime reports and other reports at:
http://www.redondo.org/depts/police/our_services/records/default.asp#CrimeReports.


How much will a copy of a dog bite report cost?

Visit the Records Unit webpage on this police department's website for information about obtaining copies of reports.

What may I do to lessen the chance that a dog will bite me?

Some of the following suggestions may reduce the possibility of a dog bite:

• Never approach a strange dog.
• Maintain a safe distance from leashed and restricted dogs.
• Do not pet a dog that is not yours.
• Do not hug a dog.
• Do not approach a dog that is confined in a space behind a fence or in a car.
  • Respect a dog's space.
  • The dog will protect its territory and be even more tense if it cannot retreat away from you.
• Do not pet or reach for a dog without letting the dog see and sniff you first.
  • The dog may bite you as a self defense mechanism.
• Do not reach for and try to control a dog by its collar if it is not your dog.
  • It may see this as an act of dominant aggression on your part.
• Do not tease a dog.
• Do not play aggressive games with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, caring for puppies or protecting a toy.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a threatening dog.
• Do not run from a dog
  • This may inspire the dog's instinct to chase prey.
• Use a tone of voice and act in a manner to say that you are in-charge.
  • Some dogs may react best to a soft, calming tone, "Good dog. It's okay; go home."
  • Some dogs may react best to a loud and low voice,  "Go home.  Go away."
• Be careful when touching or moving an injured dog.

What are some of the reasons that a dog becomes aggressive?

• Dominance motivated aggression: a dog may see your actions as a challenge to its social status
• Fear motivated aggression: a dog may sense that you are going to harm it
• Territorial aggression: a dog may defend you, your yard, food, or toys
• Individual aggression: a dog may be motivated by age, gender, medical condition, breed, temperament or past history of discipline

What behavior indicates that the dog wants to be left alone and may attack?

A threatening dog may:

• Growl or snarl
• Have a wrinkled nose that draws back to show its teeth
• Have raised hair on the back of its neck and spine
• Have ears that lie back flat on its head
• Have a tensed, cocked body

If a dog is about to attack me, what should I do?

• Do not run from a dog.
  • Running may encourage its predator instinct.
  • Remain motionless unitil the dog moves away.
  • Cross your arms over your chest.
• Do not scream; try not to show fear.
• Look away from the dog
  • The dog may interpret direct eye contact as a challenge for power and control.
• Try to place an object between you and the dog.
• Throw an object away from you and the dog.
  • If the object attracts the dog and the dog investigates it, you may have a chance to move away slowly .
• Back up slowly until the dog is out of sight.

What should I do if a dog does attack?

• Put something between you and the dog.
• "Feed" the dog a jacket, purse, briefcase, binder, or other object that can come between you and the dog.
• If you are knocked to the ground, get up immediately.
• If you are knocked to the ground, are defenseless and physically incapable of rising to protect yourself some people suggest:
• Roll into a ball.
• Cover your face, neck and head by grabbing the back of your neck and pulling your elbows tightly in front of your face.

If my dog bites someone, what should I do?

• Seek professional legal advice.
• Seek professional guidance from an animal-behavioral specialist as necessary.
• Take precautions to prevent it from happening again.

What may I do to lessen the chances that my dog will bite someone?

• Do not encourage people to pet your dog.
• Train and socialize your dog for appropriate behavior.
• Do not play aggressive games with your dog.
• Tug of war and other rough games can encourage inappropriate behavior.
• Do not leave children unsupervised with your dog.
• Do not put your dog in a situation where it will be threatened or teased.
• Be cautious when you are introducing your dog to new situations around people.
• Seek professional advice if your dog shows aggression by disobedience or dominant behavior such as:
  • Growling, snarling
  • Baring teeth
  • Snapping, nipping, biting
  • Back hair raised, etc.
• Spay or neuter your dog.
  • This may reduce your dog's aggression, but it does not reduce its protectiveness of you.