Have you EVER heard of anything like this, dog may get euthanized for biting a vet tech?

I would be very interested to learn on what legal grounds the exemption was set aside, which permitted a case to be brought by the vet tech against the owners & what distinguishes this bite incident from the other snap & nips, which must be a fairly common occurrence at a local veterinary practice or hospital.

On first reading it I did wonder if it was a test case to determine if it was possible for people who worked with animals to circumvent the exemption & undermine the protection if afforded owners, whose dogs may nip or snap in what may be a highly stressful situation, to successfully claim against the owner.

Based on the facts, no, the dog should not be euthanized & I am surprised that the vet tech attempted to clean the dog's teeth without sedation.

I would imagine that the city found out about this bite from the hospital, as the hospital is obligated to report dog bites. If the vet tech needed to be treated at an ER, this was not a tiny nip, but a more serious bite. It appears that the city law allowed the city to then press charges despite what the vet tech might have requested. There also appear to have been numerous mistakes made by the owners and the vet tech. Letting the owner hold the dog in her arms for any sort of treatment was a pretty big one. When the dog is being held in this manner(up in the air, enclosed in the owner's arms) it has no option of escape if it feels threateed, making a bite much more likely. And if the dog does bite, he's more likely to get the tech's face in that position, as it will be closer than necessary. It's also possible that the dog felt it was protecting the owner, rather than itself, in this situation as the owner was upset and the tech was coming quite close to the owner as well. In a better vet practice, the vet or the tech would have securely held the dog in such a way that it couldn't bite and the other would have performed whatever procedure was needed precisely to prevent this sort of bite. The tech also apparently took the owner's word for it that Spork was OK instead of reading the dog and the situation properly. All vets have muzzles for dogs they suspect may bite, despite what the owner says. So while the owners may well have a vicious dog, the handling at the vet's office didn't do anything to manage the situation and may have provoked it. As to this incident putting people off bringing their dogs to the vet: see above. Good veterinary practices know how to appropriately handle dogs to minimize the potential of bites. ETA: Now that I've seen the previous q on this, it just confirms everything I've already said! The techs lip was torn off, the dog had a history of nervousness at the vet, etc. Look at Miaugh's answer on the original Q for more details.

"Every night I tuck him into bed. If he doesn't have a blanket on him, he starts crying, I have to get up and make sure he's covered," - Geez, sounds hell vicious!!! Someone kill the damn dog. *sarcasm*

WOW. I support these Walkers one hundred percent. RESPECT.

I have dificulties finding the story true... Seriously. How is this possible?! I found pretty stupid, dumb vets during my life. But crap. This law is messed up.

So I suppose that the vet could set the dog on fire, spank the dog, open the dog and take it's insides out with no anestesy and if the dog bit back... Straight send to the euthnasia room.

What a big load of plain SH*T! Can someone explain me why the laws are all on THEIR side?

I agree there are good vets out there, but there are plenty of bad ones too. A nervous, new vet tech could simply do something wrong and make the dog nervous. But should we be holding our dogs with fear that maybe they turn "vicious" if the vet sticks a scissor on their eyes? WHOA.

That's why I support those damn Walkers. Once again, a lot of respect for those guys.

** I'll EDIT it later, to BETTER :-) ***

Thats the risk of the job. My vet tech teacher was attacked by a parrot that hit an artery she continued what she was doing and then went to the hospital, she knew the risk.

I plan on going into this field, the difference is I know the risks that are involved.

The attorney is right if the dog gets euthanized you will see a drop in vet care in that area.

Person Below thanks for posting that.

Though if she knew better she would have kept her face away from the head of a nervouse dog. That was the first thing I was taught was even if the dog didn't look nervous you still kept your face away from the dogs teeth.

I agree with reporting it but not with pressing charges, at a vets office dogs are nervous theres new people, and the smell of sick or dieing animals puts them at edge, so she cannot entirerly judge a dog based on what she sees, she sees dogs that are already upset, not what they are like at home.

This letter from the hospital owner is very interesting:

http://static.cbslocal.com/station/kcnc/docs/2010/...

This video below shows the bitten technician- and it was bad, portions of her lips were bitten off. This video also says the accident happened in the lobby, the dog was shaking & defecating. While I'm very sorry for the technician- those signs alone would merit getting a muzzle on the dog before getting your face anywhere near the dog's mouth. Other stories say the dog was always very nervous at vet visits--this information must have been noted, staff should have been duly cautious.

The dog was coming in for a dental procedure, but a muzzle still could & should have been placed on the dog prior to pre-meds being given, the catheter placed, etc. Proper restraining on the dog before the technician or doctor checked the dog's mouth should have also prevented this. How far can a 10 year old, 17 lb Dachshund launch himself at a person's face, if hands were properly placed on the dog to restrain him ?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/denvercbs4-15750663/ve...

This is crap. I'm a CVT (certified vet tech). To say that I have never been bitten, scratched, kicked, body slammed would be a lie. Getting hurt by an animal in a veterinary setting is as common as professional football players blowing out their knees. The City of Lafayette is ignorant. I'm so glad that I don't work there and I won't even consider a position there no matter how much it pays. This kind of crap will keep people from taking their pets to the vet in Lafayette. Maybe people need to start going to Boulder for their vet care. After this the vets may leave in droves from Lafayette because of lack of business. I'd be scared to take one of my animals to a vet there as there is a potential for a vet or lay person to get bit in a vet facility. It doesn't matter how nice the pet may be. Scared animals can and will damage people.

That is definitely unfair. A Dachshund is a small dog and the fact the owner was holding him down and he still managed to bite the vet tech says she was very close to the dog's face. She should have kept some distance or at least had someone else help hold the dog. When you are somebody like a vet tech who works with animals that might be sick or injured you are technically saying, "I know some dogs might bite me, but I'm willing to take the chance to help animals in pain."

I think it would also help to know if this dog bit anyone else. If not, why should the city make an exception to kill this poor dog? That city should get their laws straight. The vet tech was very close to the dogs face with a "weapon" and they are saying the dog is vicious because he got afraid and used the only defense he had?

Living in the great state of Colorado, I looked into this more (that and it's ALL over our news and radio now...)

On the tech's side, she had to receive plastic surgery, because chunks of her lip were missing.

On the dog's side, he was in for a tooth extraction (3, to be more precise, and a cyst). Like any animal, dogs will mask pain as long as they can physically stand to. Tooth problems are EXTREMELY painful. The tech leaned over to cut a hospital band on the dog, and he snapped. I can't say I blame him.

On one hand, people argue that animals aren't people and don't have our intelligence or comprehension or equal life force. On the other, we expect animals to abide by our rules and laws that we can't possibly expect them to understand! A human child knows that a sore tooth hurts, but don't kick the dentist. We expect an animal to know the same?

I have heard from several people that go to this vet that he is an amazing vet, and he in no way supports or shuns this decision. He is simply trying to remain neutral. Yet the vets office is now being harrassed constantly, and it's not their fault. Just the dumb bimbo they hired.

The tech reported the incident and filed charges because she felt that others should be kept safe from this dog. She feared he would bite someone else. A 10 year old, 17lb FAT dachsund. Who was in for a tooth extraction and that was the time that he bit. REALLY?? Next she'll be filing charges when a hit by car victim who is bleeding out of every orifice snaps at her when she places a jugular catheter.

Now, a lot of techs and vets alike are not the best "people" persons. They are in the field because they love animals and hate people. But this is shocking even for a people hater.

I have never heard anything like that. People working in vet fields KNOW the risk of being bit and usually take precautions to prevent it..SHE got too close, SHE scared him, SHE was the professional. Shoot if the dog bit the owner the vet clinic would have been liable to pay for her medical charges because as soon as they start care they are suppose to handle the dog to ensure everyone's safety. I hope this vet tech gets fired and this dog wins the case. This has to be about the stupidest "dog vicious" case I've ever heard. The dog was scared and reacted. How about someone pins down the tech and puts brings scissors by her face and not tell her what they're for or why they're doing it..yeesh.

Emilie - Dachshund's are burrowers and tend to like to be covered by a blanket...my grandma's Dachshund does the same thing but she burrows herself lol. I think its cute and hilarious to see their rump sticking out from under a blanket.

We weren't there and I doubt we'll ever know the full story and every detail of what happened. I happen to agree with Emilie.

Yes, dachshunds are small dogs, but being that they were originally bred to charge after, fight, and kill badgers, they're no shrinking violet. The have the tenacity of a terrier. In a spoiled dog, as this dog obviously is, that spells trouble.

I don't remotely think the dog should be put down; if there are no previous accounts of this dog acting visciously (fear-based or not), then this is completely out of line.

Perhaps, in lieu of the court case, those owners should consider some appropriate training and learn to treat their dog like a dog.

Every veterinary professional knows what they're getting into and what their job hazards are. Also, the majority of pet owners are completely oblivious to canine signals and behavior and don't understand how serious their dog's behavior really is.