Idaho Dad Searches for the Owners of the Dog Who Bit His Daughter

Dog bites can happen in the blink of an eye.

Over 4 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Of that number, data from the Humane Society shows over 2 million are children ages 5 to 9, and nearly 30% end up hospitalized for significant injuries.

In Idaho, the Department of Health & Welfare reports "3 out of 10 dog bite-related hospitalizations were for children 4 years and younger."

Photo by Vitaliy Zalishchyker on Unsplash

Why are so many kids bitten by dogs?

Research from multiple sources including The National Institute of Health says dog bites are prevalent among kids ages 10 and under, with boys being bitten more often than girls. But why?

Photo by Joshua Heath on Unsplash

Today's Veterinary Practice points to several common child behaviors that can agitate even the best-trained dogs.

Young and preschool-age children can be impulsive, fast-moving, loud, and oblivious to a dog lying nearby. They are most likely to do things “to” the dog, such as hugging, holding the dog’s head, or disturbing a sleeping or resting dog, yet are still too young to follow safety instructions reliably. -TVP

TVP also factors in inconsistent supervision and a laissez faire attitude about interactions between dogs and kids. More often than not, studies show young children are bitten by dogs they know in front of their parents or the dog's caregiver. Even when a child does nothing to provoke a dog, territorial behavior, pain, and anxiety may lead to biting.

Was anxiety the reason a dog bit a small Kuna girl over the weekend?

On the evening of Sunday, April 21, Drew Rudy turned to Kuna Must Know, a close-knit Treasure Valley community Facebook group, after his little girl was badly bitten by a dog.

This photo was shared with permission from Drew Rudy, Kuna Must Know group member and the victim's father.

Rudy's daughter had been playing with a friend at Winchester Park on S. Ten Mile and W. Yukon Dr. Kuna at around 6:30 p.m. when she was bitten by what appeared to be a Standard Poodle.

When asked by our team, Rudy said his child had received explicit permission to pet the dog before doing so. Because the dog was with caregivers who weren't its owners, it's plausible separation anxiety caused the Poodle to lash out.

This is probably a long shot but my daughter was bit by a dog at Winchester park [...]. She said it was an older couple with a dog that looked like a white standard poodle. They also had a little dog with them. They didn’t wait for me to get there and they did not give her a phone number to reach them at. I need to get in touch with these people. They said they were dog sitting for their grandkid. -Drew Rudy

Concerned for his daughter's health, Rudy harbors no ill will against the dog or its owners. He does, however, need to know if the dog's vaccinations are current and any pertinent health conditions it may have.

If you have any information to share with Rudy, please email your tips to ryan.valenzuela@townsquaremedia.com.

Keep scrolling for...

The tragic story of a Boise dog eaten alive on a patio
7 reasons Idaho dogs can legally bite a human

Get our free mobile app

The best & cleanest dog park in the Boise area
10 surprisingly dog-friendly Boise-area shops & businesses

Boise Family's Dog Was Eaten Alive On Their Patio

The following true story is a secondhand account of a tragedy one of our teammates suffered.

Gallery Credit: Ryan Antoinette Valenzuela

7 Reasons Your Dog Can Bite Someone in Idaho & 1 That Gets Them Euthanized

No canine may be classified as high-risk or dangerous when, at the time they bite someone, the precipitating cause constitutes the following justified provocations:

Gallery Credit: Ryan Antoinette Valenzuela