What To Do If You are Dog Bitten in the National Park, State Park or Anywhere

What To Do If You are Dog Bitten in the National Park, State Park or Anywhere

Dana Koogler

Tuesday July 3, 2019

   I recently saw a post on Facebook where a fellow had gotten bit by a dog while taking others out hiking.   The incident took place inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.    Dogs are not permitted to be on the trails within the park with the exception of the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee Trail.    Folks ignore the rules taking their dogs on the trails anyhow.  

I have run into people with tiny puppies, cats, and big dogs of all sorts. I have never had a

 scary experience with a dog on the trails inside the park.  I have given up trying to tell people 

you shouldn't have your dog here.  They know. They just don't care.   Folks have the attitude

"Rules don't apply to me".     

  The reasons given by the park service for prohibiting dogs is to to prevent the presence of the dogs from taking away from the experience of non dog lovers on the trail. They also do not want the dogs creating a conflict with bears or wildlife.   Dog excrement is another reason.

Dogs can carry diseases into the area wildlife population.  

    The fellow spoke to the folks with the dog and told them politely that the dog was not allowed to be there.  They ignored him.  The dog was a big one and bit him. The owners did not apologize , and showed zero concern. They told him the dog knew he was not a nice person and continued on their way.  The fellow is a guide and his paying customers witnessed this event. 

He has a license and has to pay a fee for it. carry insurance and abide by the rules. The park service gets a percentage of his fees.    His customers could have been attacked. There were children in the group.    This topped about all I've ever heard of as far as gall.  

         I shared his post from Facebook to GoSmokies. It is a social media platform I like that is run by the Knox News Sentinel.    A fellow on GoSmokies read it and commented.   My purpose in sharing the post was to circulate the photos of the persons, the info and the license number in hope they will be caught and made to answer for this.    The comment given regarding it was an excellent explanation of what his training was as a forest ranger in South Carolina.  He detailed what would typically happen and how it would be handled as a park service worker. He outlined how local law enforcement would get involved and what follow up would be done.

I decided to do a blog post about this incident to inform others what to do if this happens to you or someone you know.     

   The fellow bitten handled it smartly. I sincerely hope he gets satisfaction for the utter lack of control over the animal and the decision by these persons to break the rules.   Selfishness knows no bounds it seems.  

Here is what a retired park ranger  had to say about it.  

In response to the dog bite story.

Several years before retiring as a South Carolina park ranger, we were informed of the service dog law. We were told basically, a person could accompany their dog anywhere in the park. We could not ask the person any questions about, is this a service dog. Basically, the dog was still required to be on a leash, and be under the control of the owner. From that time on our park was over run with people legally taking their dogs anywhere that they went.

I don’t know how the Tennessee law is written on service dogs. Some input from knowledgeable readers would be appreciated. The thing is, if the GSMNP Rangers were instructed as we were, then dogs can go everywhere that humans go. I hope that is not the case.

If as a ranger, in SC, and I was informed of the dog bite, I would immediately have called the local Sheriff department and have an officer dispatched. If the dog owner was present, the officer would require documentation of vaccination against rabies. The person that was bitten, would be advised to get medical treatment. Both myself and the officer would be documenting the event. If the dog owner could not produce proof of vaccinations, then the dog would have to be quarantined and monitored in a facility for two weeks. The person that was bitten, now has to decide, do I  take a chance that the dog is ok or do I start the preventative shot treatments. If the dog is up to date on vaccinations, and the papers are presented quickly, then the person bitten will not be stressed with the decision on preventative treatment. The reports from both officers documented the event and are available for legal purposes if desired.

If you are bitten by a dog on a trail and the owners are uncooperative, take photos and try to document the vehicle as was done in the story. If a ranger is not seen,Go to nearest treatment center, they will inform law Enforcement of a dog bite. An officer should be dispatched to the treatment center for a report. The different agencies will work together to find the dog owner. The car photo with license visible, would a big help in finding the jerk. That was a smart move.Some would say, it’s just a dog bite, chill! If it happens to you or a loved one, then the seriousness of the situation becomes more obvious.

     

 Below: license plate of the offenders 

What to Do If This Happens To You

•      Try to take photos and/or video of the individuals and the dog.
•  Try to get photos of their vehicle and license plate. 
•   Try to  get information from the persons involved.  Chances are they are not going to cooperate since now they know they are going to be in trouble.   
• Report the dog bite and get the information to a park ranger or law enforcement at once.
• Get the wound attended to and photographed by either yourself or preferrably at a medical facility. It would be best to go to the Emergency Room of a hospital. 
• You may be faced with the decision do you take rabies prophylaxis shots or take your chances the dog is vaccinated?   While rabies shots are not fun nor cheap the disease is still fatal today. No cure for it exists once you have it.  If I could not prove the dog had been vaccinated I would take the shots.

Above: photos of the people and their dog. A saint bernard. 

  Moreover.. follow the rules people!  I like dogs. I like animals.  I have been a pet owner including dogs.  I have never taken my dog into the national park.  There are plenty of other places to hike with a dog in the area.   M said it well. It doesn't seem like a big deal until it happens to you or someone you care about.   

Florida plates on a black Ford Escape License plate EVT-Y84

If you see these people or know anything about it please notify the rangers at

NPS Ranger Dispatch is: 865 436 1230.

The number above is the one to call if you get bitten or need a ranger in the GSMNP.

Dog is light brown and white weight 175-225 lbs.