A large dog, allowed to run loose, raced across a frozen reservoir chasing a coyote, but broke through the ice. The dog swam in the frozen water, but was unable to get to solid ice, and was tiring. A man who had been specially trained for this type of rescue, was able to bring the dog to safety. 

The dog had has an owner, although a careless one, and one who seemed very happy to capitalize on the dog’s ordeal and his own carelessness. The day after the rescue, he subjected the dog to being a story at a newsroom. This is a stressful situation for any dog, and this one had recently undergone a tremendous ordeal. 

A news anchor, who is by all accounts a wonderful animal lover, got down on her knees, over the dog, and petted him. The dog was clearly stressed, licking his lips, and looking away. The anchor did not back off, but got closer, petted more vigorously, and put her face next to the dog. He snapped, a quick warning, but the anchor was bit on the lip, and she was hospitalized. 

The dog in question was not a pit bull, though commenters to the story seemed to think the dog must have been. Regardless, the story highlights some important considerations: watch a dog’s body language and respect his right not to be handled by strangers. Dogs lick their lips when they are nervous, so if a dog is doing that, be particularly careful. Looking a dog in the eyes can be very threatening to them, as is standing over him, so don’t do it unless you know the dog quite well, and he is comfortable with you. Never put your face next to a dog that you don’t know extremely well. 

It’s a sad incident. I hope the news anchor recovers quickly, and I hope the public becomes better educated about dog body language, so bites can be reduced.