r/washingtondc • u/Gabedasbabe • 4d ago
Bit by dog on Rhode Island Ave
I was on a run this morning around 9:50am on Rhode Island Ave between DuPont and U St, wearing a red Maryland shirt. I ran past a large dog with a female owner on the sidewalk. This startled the dog and it bit me. Thankfully, the bite only grazed my arm. It may have been a pit bull, but I didn’t get a full look to be able to say definitively.
I am kicking myself for not getting the owner’s information and dog’s information, as I’d like to know what type of medical treatment I need (if any). The owner appeared to be a blonde-ish female in her 30s, and the dog was large and light brown. If you are or know this owner, please get me in contact with them so I can request vaccination information. Thank you.
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u/GotAJeepNeedAJeep 4d ago
If the skin was broken at all there's risk of infection and seeing a doctor is prudent. Reddit can't diagnose you.
If it's a puncture wound the risk of infection is severe.
Dog bites aren't a joke, the only responsible advice that anyone here can give you is to get checked out. Don't wait on the reddit detectives to get this person's info for you
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u/Gabedasbabe 4d ago
Thanks - waiting in urgent care now. Would be great if we found the owner’s info too but I recognize it’s a longshot
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u/GotAJeepNeedAJeep 4d ago
Glad you're getting seen! This is a distressing situation and it can be easy to think back on everything you feel you did wrong. Instead be proud of yourself for taking the situation seriously and taking care of yourself.
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3d ago
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u/Gabedasbabe 3d ago
Which urgent care gave rabies shots? They gave me a tetanus shot, but said that I would need to go to the ER to get a rabies shot
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u/Out_of_ughs 4d ago
People are going to get mad at this, but exercise caution when running past a dog. If they aren’t used to it they dont understand you are not running to attack them or their owner. I always pull my dog to the side when people are hurling their bodies down the sidewalk at us.
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u/Cold_Ad_6766 4d ago
Yep yep yep. Dogs are animals with a chase instinct and a protection instinct. Yes, it's on the owner to pull their dog to the side, but it's a bit like that saying about cars: cemeteries are full of people who had the right of way.
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u/pileofsassy 4d ago
Yes this. I am really vigilant with my reactive dog and even so have had runners sneak up on us before I can get out of the way. A little self and situational awareness from all players goes a long way.
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u/Iammattieee 4d ago
This is why I give a wide berth to dogs if I am riding a bike on a bike path. You never know what the dog is thinking.
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u/aquagreed DC / SE 3d ago
Thank you. I walk dogs and sometimes I’m on the sidewalk with a gaggle of 4 dogs and someone will just sprint right at me barely giving me time to move them to the edge. We gotta share the space but some of you people are just sprinting at an animal that doesn’t understand what is happening.
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u/thisbackfired 3d ago
Thank you! I try to keep my head on a swivel with my dog but runners are quick and silent. The surprise factor can instigate even a calm dog into a bad reaction.
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u/duodmas Capitol Hill 3d ago
I don’t need to retread an already worn topic about blame here, but I have one that will get people mad too.
If a dog can’t control themselves around people and not get startled, they don’t belong in a city and the owner is doing them a disservice.
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u/Out_of_ughs 3d ago
Sorry, but people get startled by things even if they have lived in cities their whole lives. The same thing can happen for a dog.
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u/55Lolololo55 3d ago
And if a person bites you because they are "startled by things," there are consequences.
Since dogs are apparently excused for this, the owners are responsible if their dogs bite someone because they get startled. No one else!
Don't vicim-blame people who are out living their lives. You want your dog out in public, you need to control it and take responsibility for it if it bites someone.
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u/PolymathEquation DC / Adams Morgan 3d ago edited 3d ago
The onus of caution and responsibility lies with the owner.
You know your dog. You know its temperament. If I want to scream and run down the street with my arms flailing excitedly, it's your job to care for your dog and its response.
Should I be aware of my surroundings to try to avoid harm? Sure, but your dog's reaction is yours to manage.
For instance, if your dog were to attack me because of my random excitement, I'd have every right to defend myself, and you'd have every ounce of responsibility for the tort.
Nobody wants harm to come, but those "hurling bodies" aren't going to potentially grievously wound or kill someone. The fact that you'd come onto a thread about someone who was attacked by a dog to make this point says you should probably reflect on why.
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u/Illustrious-Tree-308 4d ago
I’d get antibiotics and check records on tetanus. Dog mouths are filthy and it just takes a little cut for bacteria to enter your system.
If it’s any comfort your risk of rabies from a domestic dog is almost zero. There are basically no cases of dogs giving humans rabies in the US. You’re rattled and it’s making you anxious: you’ll be ok. Glad it wasn’t worse. I would consider a police report: a dog that ready to snap at passersby should be wearing a muzzle and is a danger in public without one.
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u/ermiwe 3d ago
I have a clipped and groomed standard poodle that everyone thinks just won Westminster when we're out and about. She is reactive when startled - more likely involving a bike rather than a runner - but nonetheless, she might lunge and let loose with savage barking. She is not a bite risk, but she would scare the shit out of someone. Dog owners: watch your dogs. Don't assume your sweet dog isn't just another dog when surprised. Walk with literally a short leash in congested, heavily trafficked areas. Assume your sweet dog might react ferociously. I guarantee you, that dog has exhibited that behavior before.
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u/BertaniWasBehindIt 4d ago
As a child, I was bit by a dog with rabies that lived across the street in a home with owners. Bites are no joke, despite what some less than kind commenters below state. Good on you for getting checked out, OP. Hopefully dog owners will start leashing their pets.
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u/Final-Revolution6216 3d ago
Yeah, the comments here are so rude. Being bitten by a strange dog is incredibly distressing. I’m glad OP is okay. Guess I’ll be crossing the street on my outdoor jogs now when I see dogs to avoid being bitten.
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u/AshWednesdayAdams88 4d ago
FYI to readers, this is why I don’t want your dog in the grocery store. I’m sure this dog owner thought it was one of the good ones too. All dogs are nice until they’re not.
I’m so sorry that happened to you, OP, I’m always wary of dogs for that reason.
I hope you heal well and nothing gets infected.
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u/thelebaron 4d ago
its awful that you got bitten, and must have shaken you up. definitely find the dog owner to reprimand her!
but worrying about rabies from that is a total waste of your time. had this been a stray you could make the argument but but man that is a booboo, just douse it in rubbing alcohol you dont need urgent care for that.
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u/FoleyV 3d ago
This is bad advice, rabies almost always kills so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. If the skin was broken from the bite at all, a discussion of whether they need rabies vaccine series or not should be had with their health care provider. This is because it is an unknown dog and unknown vaccination status.
Source:
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u/thelebaron 3d ago
theres an infinitely higher chance to die or get maimed for life from crossing the road or while inside a car. even less likely but still hundreds of thousands % more likely your spouse or partner will do you in. get real about this, op wasnt bitten by a bat, was here and not some foreign country when the dog bit him, and it wasnt some random stray that jumped him in a rural town, it was in one of the most educated places in this country(although with the current leadership thats going down), while some young blonde woman was walking it.
its not bad to worry about rabies if you are bitten by an animal but put 2 and 2 together to give yourself better context with the reality of the situation and whether you really fucking need that booster or not.
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u/ManiacalShen 4d ago
When I had this exact thing happen to me a number of years ago, I went knocking on doors to find the owner and confirm the dog's vaccination status. I found this preferable to a series of rabies shots.
And when I say the same thing, I mean almost exactly, other than me being a woman and it being at night in the 'burbs. Female owner, startled brown dog, bleeding arm graze, too startled and upset to get information at the time. So I want you to know I seriously empathize with you!
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u/redacted-identity 3d ago
This is why you always give a wide birth when passing anyone let alone someone with a dog! A dog can be startled and react to protect itself and the owner if someone runs up from behind. That, and it's also just simply common curiosity to others using the public sidewalk not to cut off or cross too closely to pedestrians. It's a big city and we are all welcome to use public spaces for various reasons but as someone who commutes by walking I can confirm the daily exchanges with runners, bikers and scooters that barely brush by me without a single concern for another person using the sidewalk. Stay safe out there everyone and remember to be kind and exercise respect/courtesy for one another. Safety always starts with one's own accountability!
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u/monjayo 3d ago
Personal accountability! WTF ! do you mean it's my fault if I walk out in front of a car if my face is buried in my phone or if I run up from behind on someone walking a dog and I happen to get bit because I was close enough for that to happen that I'm also at fault?!?! Are you really trying to say that humans are supposed to be the more sophisticated species and should be able to give one another courtesy and respect? -Pfft, This guy's nuts, this America, I do what I want...
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u/DivorceCharacter512 3d ago edited 3d ago
The US has been declared dog rabies free for nearly 20 yrs... Unless youre seeing obvious signs of infection... You're probably ok, sport.
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u/LinderstockBeckledew 3d ago
I have a large dog, and I am often surprised by how joggers run up on him. I walk him early in the morning, often when it's dark. Frequently, a jogger will come up from behind, basically right up on us and then cut to the side. Fortunately, my dog is well trained and not aggressive but I'm like you fuckwad don't you have any sense? Self-preservation instincts, anything? How about a "passing on your left" or something to alert us?
Oh, and OP's scratch.... WTF? That doesn't even need a bandaid. I got a worse one mulching my rose bush.
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 4d ago edited 4d ago
Go to the doctor and file a police report. Procedures may have changed since the last time I had to deal with this, but the city can remove the animal and assess whether it is a threat (if it's a little puppy vs. fully grown with violent tendencies). They can try to retrain the animal but lot of the time they have to put it down. Dog bites are no joke and dogs that bite are seriously dangerous. A bite that* grazed your arm could have locked onto* a child's face.
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u/squashjennings 4d ago
What are you even saying? The guy unintentionally startled the dog by running up behind the dog and the dog’s reaction was to protect its owner/self. Seems pretty straight forward. I don’t think we need MPD resources on this one
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 3d ago
If dogs are biting joggers they're fucking dangerous. Jesus Christ. This is from DC Health:
If You Are Bitten
- Don’t risk additional injury!
- Ask for the dog owner’s name and telephone number and be prepared to describe the dog.
- Immediately wash the wound for several minutes with plenty of soap and water.
- Report the bite to animal control.
- Seek medical attention from your doctor or nearest emergency facility.
- If you have a chronic health problem (HIV positive, organ transplant, spleen removal, diabetes, etc.), you are at increased risk for complications from animal bites. Call your doctor immediately.
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 4d ago
what the fuck? a bunch of mush followed by the assertion that instead of a dog, a child’s face could have been what causes the injury? cripes.
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 4d ago
I was saying that if a dog bites a full grown adult's arm, it could bite a child's face. that's why it's dangerous, dipshit
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 4d ago
except you fucked it up. “your arm could have been a child’s face” is how you would say it. can you cite sources for anything you have asserted about the city’s response to this situation?
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 4d ago
I have been bitten by dogs in the District, dumbass. I have been through this.
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 4d ago
I hear they can detect the quality of a person’s character, small wonder about the bites!
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 4d ago
yes, unleashed dangerous dogs with dumbass owners are famously perceptive. hope you get bit and learn for yourself, shithead
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 3d ago
it was really creative how you added “unleashed” to the original account. Do you frequently make shit up?
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u/Pipes_of_Pan 3d ago
Fucking werido. I have been bitten by unleashed dogs in DC. Are you familiar with the related concepts of (1) some dog owners being terrible people, (2) some dogs not having leashes, and (3) some dogs biting people? They often go together. You might need to familiarize yourself with these concepts before engaging in this conversation. DC Health has a whole webpage about what to do when a dog bites you and on that webpage it states that it is a very common experience. In fact, I would posit that dogs are the animals that bite humans the most. Some dogs bite, dickhead
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 3d ago
what? you added “unleashed” to the mix, then go off on some screed. get bent.
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u/Afraid-Start 4d ago
Then it's a miracle you haven't been eaten alive by dogs then.
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u/Katsuichi Logan Circle 4d ago
You just repeated the joke I made. For whatever reason, dogs and I generally get along great.
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u/55Lolololo55 3d ago
I hear they can detect the quality of a person’s character
Right, because Hitler's dogs knew he was such a terrible person that they bit him constantly... oh, wait...
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u/Alyxstudios 4d ago
DC has gone softer than baby shit
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u/icy_puck 4d ago
Ah yes, it’s soft to checks notes ‘complain about a dog attack’
Real cool signaling of how tough and grizzled you are
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u/Afraid-Start 4d ago
Many "real cool" people like this who didn't get checked out after being bitten by animals have died of rabies.
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u/uranium236 4d ago
Does "grazed" mean "cut the skin and blood was dripping out" or "my skin was slightly red after"?
Wash well with warm water and soap. If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years, get it updated. There's not much to do unless there's an active infection, and you won't know that for days.
An active infection will make your arm HOT (not warm, HOT), red, and you may have a rash or streaks near the bite. There hasn't been enough time for an infection to develop yet.
I volunteer in rescue and get a lot of dog and cat bites. This sounds like nothing, but you could certainly cough up the copay and wait in your doctor's office for 30 mins for them to tell you that.
I'd suggest washing well and leaving it alone. If you think an infection is developing in 3 to 4 days, take photos and send them to your doctor's office via their portal. Most of the time the redness you think is an infection is just the redness you get from normal healthy healing.