By Scott Etkin
In the days since news broke of a dog attack on the Upper West Side, Amanda Gagnon, who runs a dog-training facility on West 85th Street, has received questions about it during every session with clients.
“People are scared, very scared,” she said on a call with the Rag. “Especially people who own smaller dogs, naturally, are really worried for their dogs’ safety.”
Dog attacks have been very rare in Gagnon’s 15 years in the neighborhood, she said. She believes that extra vigilance is warranted during this time, but also expressed concern about some of the advice, though perhaps well-intentioned, that she is seeing online. For example, carrying a Taser stun gun, which she views as too extreme.
To provide the community with access to expert guidance, Gagnon is hosting a free webinar on Friday at 1:30 p.m. with Melissa Arbitman, a certified dog trainer who has experience working at Animal Care Centers of NYC, the city’s largest animal shelter.
The session will cover precautions people can take when out with their dog. Gagnon advises situational awareness, meaning being alert to dogs in the park or on the street that appear to be aggressive. Owners who normally let their dogs run free in the park can, for the time being, keep them on leash.
On walks, Gagnon emphasized crossing the street if you see a dog you’re unsure about. “Sometimes we might feel self-conscious about doing that sort of thing, but it usually is in your best interest to trust your gut and just walk a different route,” she said.
Not all situations are preventable, however. Gagnon cautioned that people who intervene in a dog attack could be putting themselves in danger, so she advised learning techniques from professionals. Cassidy Ingram, a dog trainer on the Upper West Side, has posted a YouTube video demonstrating how to separate two dogs by approaching the attacking dog from behind and using a bite stick, a handheld tool, to pry its mouth open. In the video, she says not to pull the dogs apart or hit the attacking dog.
Gagnon is sympathetic to the concerns of a future dog attack, though she does not want to raise alarm. “This is a safe neighborhood,” she said. “An increase in vigilance and situational awareness right now is advisable, but we don’t have to be terrified walking down the street either.”
Gagnon is encouraging dog owners to continue to allow their pets to socialize with other dogs, as long as they feel comfortable. “Socializing a dog doesn’t mean they have to say ‘hi’ to every dog, but it does mean that they need to say ‘hi’ to some dogs,” she said. Socialization is especially important for puppies, but it remains important for dogs into adulthood.
In Gagnon’s experience, most dog owners in the neighborhood are responsible about correcting their pet’s reactive behavior. That the recent dog attack appears to involve a repeat offender is what makes this situation particularly concerning.
Gagnon hopes that the attacks do not lead to a generalized fear of pitbulls. “This is not a breed issue. This is an issue of owner negligence,” she said. “There are many, many pitbulls who are absolutely wonderful dogs.”
The link to sign up for the free webinar is available – HERE.
In addition, Cassidy Ingram, a dog trainer with a daycare and boarding facility at 252 West 79th Street, is holding a free workshop there on bite prevention and response on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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