DOG BITES MAN

The big news from the canine world is that Rolo is free after being on death row six months, two weeks and five days for biting a neighbor. This past week a six-person jury found his owner guilty on one count each of having a dog at large and having a dangerous dog. She received a 90-day suspended sentence but will not have to serve time if Rolo remains trouble free for one year. She must maintain liability insurance and put up a higher fence. The judge decided against the ultimate punishment - euthanasia - for Rolo. Instead, he must work on his manners in an on-going training program.

The star witness at the trial was a professional dog trainer, who testified that Rolo was friendly but untrained. His proposed training schedule helped convince the judge to reverse the previous decision to put the dog down. Rolo's owner was loving but clueless about how to manage a large, energetic dog. The owner failed to recognize that leaving her dog alone in the fenced backyard all day, exposed to inaccessible stimuli, increased the dog's frustration level, making him more aggressive.

Last July, when Rolo got loose, he bit a neighbor in a community north of Denver. After several neighbors testified that they were afraid of the dog, a municipal judge ordered that Rolo be euthanized. His owner appealed the decision and started picketing in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse. She also started a Web site pleading for support and received over 4,000 signatures for a petition. Not only did her campaign work, last Friday the newly-liberated 5-year-old German shepherd achieved national celebri dog status by appearing with his owner on NBC's "Today" show.

Rolo's reprieve highlights a highly critical public health issue. Approximately 334,000 people are admitted to emergency rooms each year and doctors see another 466,000 in dog-bite associated injuries. Many bites occur with family members as victims, and experts project 10:1 as the

ratio of unreported to reported bites, arriving at a whopping 50 million bite incidents per year nationwide. Every 40 seconds, someone in this country seeks medical attention for a dog-bite related injury.

Statistically, tracked over a 20-year period, the breeds most likely to bite were German shepherd, chow chow, golden retriever and cocker spaniel. At least 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in dog bite-related fatalities, but pit bull-type dogs and rottweilers are responsible for more than half. While large breeds can do more damage because of their size, a dachshund and Yorkshire terrier have also been implicated in fatal attacks.

Interpreting these statistics to introduce breed-specific controls is fallacious on several accounts, according to humane and professional veterinary organizations. First, a dog's tendency to bite depends on many factors: heredity, early experience, socialization and training, health and victim behavior. Any dog can bite; breed-specific legislation does not effectively protect the community against dangerous animals, and in fact, can discriminate against dogs that are not dangerous. Finally, many incidents occur with dogs of mixed origins that are commonly ascribed to a purebred breed.

The numbers of recorded dog bites are significantly higher in children than in adults, with children under 15 years of age making up approximately 70 percent of dog bite victims, representing a greater health problem than measles, mumps and whooping cough combined. Young boys between 5- and 9-years-old are the most frequent victims.

Teach your children to be cautious around strange dogs and to behave respectfully with their own pets. Always ask the owner, if present, if it is all right to pet their dog. Never approach a dog you don't know, especially if it is fenced, tied up or in a parked car. Never sneak up on a dog that is eating, caring for puppies or sleeping. Chasing or teasing a dog is unacceptable. And never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

When approached by a strange dog, stay still and avoid the temptation to turn and run which triggers a dog's natural tendency to chase. Avoid eye contact and slowly and quietly back away or speak in a commanding voice to tell the dog to "go away." High-pitched screams will only aggravate or excite the dog. If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball, protecting your face. If you have a jacket or backpack, give that up as an object to be chewed.

Dogs are wonderful companions. By understanding their needs and behaviors and teaching ourselves and our children how to treat them respectfully and responsibly, we can avoid situations that can cause us, or them, harm. Rolo,

you're one lucky dog. I

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop and is a member of Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America (DWAA and CWA). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay retriever and two cats. At the shop are the cats, Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower Bunny, Millie guinea pig and two budgies. Send email to jan@geronimos.com.