Occupational Dog Bite Safety Newsletter | Bulli Ray

 

Training Employees To Protect Themselves

From Dog Attacks!

 

 

November / December  2011

 

In This Issue
Duke Energy Contractor To The Rescue
Breed of the Month
FALL SALE
Clamping Down on Dog Attacks
NEW: Management Level Dog Bite Prevention Workshops
SprayShield Animal Deterrent Citronella Spray
Duke Energy Contractor to the rescue:
Women attacked by dogs thanks worker
Tree service contractor presented with award for Sept. 1 act of bravery
Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star - Oct 21 2011

TERRE HAUTE - Jayleen Strole remains in pain seven weeks after an attack by three dogs left her with a deep gash in her leg, for which she is still seeking treatment.Duke energy employee saved

But it could have been much worse, said the 52-year-old Strole. She credits Roger Baynum with potentially saving her life. "I wouldn't be here today if not for this young man," she said.

On Sept. 1, Strole was walking near her home in Rosedale when she was suddenly attacked by the large dogs. Baynum, employed by Townsend Tree Service, had been working nearby performing tree-clearing work near power lines as a contractor for Duke Energy.

When he saw the dogs attack Strole, the 33-year-old Baynum immediately came to her aid and fought off the dogs until they retreated. He then calmed Strole and administered first aid using a kit Townsend employees are required to keep in their vehicles. He also called 911.
"I just reacted more than anything," said Baynum, of Bloomington. "It happened so fast, there really was no time to think."

On Thursday, representatives of Duke and Townsend gave special recognition to Baynum and presented him with a plaque. They also gave Strole a bouquet of roses.

"Roger clearly saved her from a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," said Phil Chambers, president and chief operating officer of Townsend Corp. In responding, Baynum put himself in danger.
Townsend employees receive much safety training and are required to attend CPR and first aid training and refresher courses, Chambers said.

Baynum said that training "kicked in" when he came to Strole's rescue. "I think it helped out a lot," he said. He also believes "more people should start looking out for each other. I think this country would be in much better shape."

During the Sept. 1 incident, he noted that several people drove by and did not stop to assist. "That's disheartening to me," Baynum said. Gary Williams, a Duke representative, told Baynum, "We want you to know how much Duke Energy appreciates your act of kindness, citizenship and bravery when you helped Jayleen."

During the presentation, Strole said, "I'm so glad he stepped up to the plate and took it upon himself that he was going to get involved."

Baynum said, "It was pretty scary, wasn't it?"

While the dogs initially retreated, they were about to attack again when a neighbor shot a gun and scared the dogs away.

"They came back to attack us again while my back was turned," Baynum said. "Those dogs weren't stopping."

He learned later that prior to the attack on Strole, the dogs had trapped another woman in her vehicle.

He initially tried to scare off the dogs using his vehicle, but when that didn't work, he got out and beat one off of her, which scared them all away, he said.

Strole went to her personal doctor for treatment and received 18 stitches, but the wound was too deep. She is now going each week to the Union Hospital Wound Healing Center, which will continue for several more weeks. The wound occurred to her calf.

As she talks about the incident, she says, "It was a day I don't want to relive."


Dog bite statistics:

 

An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year.

Nearly 800,000 dog bites require medical care.

Approximately 92% of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94% of which were not neutered.

Approximately 25% of fatal dog attacks involved chained dogs.

Approximately two-thirds of bites occurred on or near the victim's property, and most victims knew the dog.

The insurance industry pays more than $1 billion in dog-bite claims each year.

 
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Breed of the Month:
African Boerboel      


The African Boerboel is very distinctive in appearance. Very large, muscular and impressive looking breed. They are often coAfrican Boerboelnfused for a cross between a Mastiff and a Bulldog, however they are a unique breed that has been developed in Africa as a protection and working dog. In this breed males are distinctly masculine in appearance.
 The head is very square in shape with a short, thick muzzle and wide massive head. The skull is somewhat flat between the high set ears and there is a stop that is noticeable but not sharp. The ears are triangular and folded, held very close to the head. The eyes are horizontal in orientation and can be any color of brown that is in keeping with the coat color. The skin around the eyes should be dark regardless of the eye color. The area between the eyes is well filled and solid in appearance, as are the noticeable cheeks.

History
The African Boerboel has developed from several different breeds being crossed with the large Molusses type dogs brought by the Dutch throughout different areas in Africa. The original breed of dog brought to the Cape of Africa by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 was known as a bullenbijter, and is considered to be a Mastiff type dog although not as large as some of the Mastiffs now seen. This dog then bred with the local dogs, producing several different types of hardy and strong dogs that virtually had to survive on their own.

In 1820 when the English came to Africa they also brought large, mastiff type dogs as well as bulldogs. These dogs were bred with the already existing mastiff types. It is known that De Beers mining company brought champion line Mastiffs to Africa to work as guard dogs in the diamond mines, and they were crossed with the best of the local breeds. The English Bulldog and Bull Mastiff are considered key bloodlines in the development of the breed.

12-15 years

Mastiff

reddish brown, cream, all shades of brindle, tawny with or without a black mask

Short

Extra Large

154-200 lbs.  

 

FALL SALE:
$2.00 OFF Dog Bite Sticks #106 & #107  
Sticks

A dog will bite the first thing that he comes to, so this is a great tool to be able to put between you and the attacking dog. Dog bite sticks are a great way to keep dogs at bay, move brush, open gates, and clear away whatever is in your way. A real must for all employees in the field who encounter dogs in their daily routine.  It works!! 

  

 Order Today!

 

Instructions on how to use the Dog Bite Stick.   

 

Clamping Down on Dog Attacks 
workers pic

Imagine walking up the driveway to your client or customer's home only to have a dog burst out of the front door, growling and baring its teeth in full attack mode. If you are lucky, you won't have to find out if the dog's bark is worse than its bite.


For thousands of people who enter a homeowner's property to do their work the risk of dog attacks on the job is a frightening reality. At risk workers include delivery personnel, letter carriers, utility workers, and real estate agents. Even loud barking and the unpredictability of the situation can be unnerving. Canada Post reports that on average, there are 500 dog-related incidents a year involving Canada Post employees.
 


The U.S. Postal Service reports that annually 5,700 of their workers are victimized by dogs. Recovery from a severe dog bite can take months or years, and in some cases, the worker can be scarred for life, both physically and emotionally.


Dog bites are more common during the summertime when owners allow their pets more outdoor time in the warm weather, and as letter carriers or regular personnel known to the dog take vacation. Workers replacing vacationing colleagues are probably not familiar to the dog and therefore the dog may have more of a tendency to want to protect their owner's property. Even smaller dogs are capable of inflicting serious injuries to people they feel may be trespassing on their owners' property.

 

Tips to help avoid the bite:
In certain situations, even the gentlest dog will bite. There are steps you can take to protect yourself from being attacked or bitten on the job:   

  • If you believe a dog is about to attack, position yourself so that you have something between you and the dog, such as a tree, bench, post, backpack/purse or bicycle.
  • Always carry something to put between you and a dog. Remember the dog will bite the first thing he comes to. (Bulli Ray recommends Dog Bite Sticks
  • Resist the urge to give treats to dogs, no matter how friendly the animal may seem to be.
  • Keep a safe distance between you and the dog even if it is on a leash.
  • Avoid approaching a dog that is sleeping, barking, snarling, eating or caring for puppies. If they feel vulnerable they may fight to protect their territory.
  • Never approach a dog that appears to be in pain.    

Bulli Ray Will Work with You to Develop Your Own, Customized Safety Program!  

It's a process of continuing education. Bulli Ray provides a wide variety of training resources, courses, and products to help your organization keep people safe. 
Classroom pic

NEW: Management Level Dog Bite Prevention Workshops

 

The goal of the Management Level Dog Bite Prevention Workshop is to train corporate safety, operational and field leaders to become the company's local experts for establishing and managing on-going occupational dog bite safety programs. They will gain an understanding of pre-attack avoidance techniques, post-bite issues as a result of incident-induced trauma, and create their own training and safety plan.

 

Workshop structure   

Contact us today for pricing!

 

Bulli Ray Now Selling SprayShield Animal Deterrent Citronella Spray Spray Shield

 

Mitzi Robinson's comments on SprayShield; the main reason sprays work on some dogs is because of the spray action. The dog is scared off by the spray before the smell. The smell is secondary. When this product first came out they sent it to me for testing back in 1999. I liked it because it was just as effective as pepper spray on dogs but safe for the employee. I hated thinking about an employee spraying an attacking dog and worrying that the employee would be sprayed also and now suffering the effects of pepper spray or Halt. Pepper spray is an inflammatory. It causes immediate closing of the eyes, difficulty breathing, runny nose, and coughing. The duration of its effects depends on the strength of the spray but the average full effect lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes, with diminished effects lasting for hours. This and stronger sprays like Wasp or Bee sprays can cause extensive injuries to a child when the child graps hold of their pet after being sprayed. This will not happen with SprayShield. A can of SprayShield is great to have within reach in shelters, training classes, kennels, or veterinarian offices. It also easily fits into the pockets of meter readers, field employees, joggers, dog walkers and family members who enjoy taking strolls around the neighborhood.


Our Price:
$14.99 - Bulk pricing available

Buy today! 

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Have questions?  

 

Contact Bulli Ray we can help you with your Dog Bite prevention program!  

 

Mitzi Robinson - President
Cynthia Ballenger - Operations Manager 

 

Bulli Ray Enterprises - Dog Bite Safety  

888-777-3647    

 www.bulliray.com  

 

E-Mail:  

[email protected]
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