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Public safety

Majority of northern dog bites occurring in La Loche

Jul 31, 2019 | 4:46 PM

La Loche is leading the way when it comes to the number of dog bites in off-reserve northern communities.

That’s according to data received by larongeNOW from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which shows there were 54 dog bites in La Loche in 2018 compared to 32 in all 19 other communities in the North. Between 2009 and 2018, there were 558 dog bites in La Loche with a total of 979 for all of northern Saskatchewan. It is because of those kind of numbers why La Loche Coun. Stephen King stated leadership was looking to take drastic measures to control the local stray dog population earlier this month.

“We have the dog bites to prove we have a problem and I hate to say it, but I think a number of those dog bites are from animals people have claimed as pets,” King, who also sits as chairperson of the Community Safety Board, said. “We cancelled the dog cull partly because of the horrific things people were saying about us as a people in La Loche, which simply is not true. The people in La Loche are good people like anywhere. The problem we have has been a historic problem and we are trying to find a way to solve the problem once and for all.”

When the village announced the dog cull a couple of weeks ago, several news outlets picked up the story which resulted in many comments on social media. King noted the majority of people, unless they have spent time living in La Loche, don’t know the issues residents are faced with. In a historical sense when La Loche was a smaller place, he added it wasn’t a priority to restrain pets as their main purpose at the time was mostly for work.

But, King also mentioned residents must take responsibility for their pets if they choose to have them. He recommends dogs be secured in a fenced yard or restrained with a leash as is done in many other communities.

“I don’t think people understand the social situation in La Loche and the issues we have as a community, which contributes to some of the neglect we see with animals,” King said.

University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Jordan Woodsworth urges anyone who is bitten by a dog to seek medical attention. She mentioned it’s also important to speak with the owner of the dog to find out if it has ever been vaccinated for rabies. It is recommended to seek medical attention for bites because the wound can lead to infections as well.

If the public were to encounter dogs on the street, Woodsworth recommends giving them space so they don’t feel cornered. Warning signs of aggression could include the dog putting its ears back, the hair on its neck starting to stand, its tail wagging in a stiff manner, barking and lunging. To decrease the chances of attack, an individual should walk away facing the dog or stand completely still avoiding eye contact. If a dog attacks, she suggests acting like a rock by tucking in all part of your body with your knees under the belly and hands at the back of the neck to decrease damage.

“One of the biggest things that often happens that leads to dog bites is sort of a miss-match in the way people interact with dogs,” Woodsworth said. “We want to not make the dog feel threatened, especially for kids it’s really important. They often want to run away from dogs and sometimes that’s when the biting happens.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno

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