The Day a Dog Bit Me – A Life-Changing Lesson
An Unexpected Encounter, a Painful Bite, and the Lessons I Learned
I had an experience I will never forget. It was a warm summer evening, and I was walking back home after visiting a friend.
The streets were quiet, and I had my earphones in, enjoying some music. As I turned a corner, I noticed a brown stray dog sitting by the roadside.
It didn’t seem aggressive—just sitting there, watching everything around it
I had no reason to fear the dog, so I kept walking at my normal pace. Just then, a biker rode past, honking loudly.
The dog got startled, jumped up, and started barking furiously. Before I could react, it lunged at me and sank its teeth into my ankle.
The pain was sharp and sudden. I instinctively pulled my leg back, and the dog retreated a few steps, staring at me.
It didn’t attack again—it seemed as shocked as I was. My heart was racing, and I noticed blood trickling down my ankle. Panic started creeping in—what if this dog had rabies? What should I do next?
I rushed to the nearest water tap and washed the wound thoroughly.
There was a small grocery shop nearby. Seeing my injury, an elderly uncle from the shop came to me with concern in his eyes. He quickly went inside his shop, brought a small Dettol soap, and handed it to me, saying, "Beta, clean the wound properly." [Beta Indian Word for Son]
After I cleaned it, he firmly advised, "Don't delay now, go straight to the doctor. You should never take these wounds lightly."
Uncle was very kind. His words and quick thinking helped me stay calm in that stressful moment. I thanked him and immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.
The pain was increasing, and I knew I couldn’t take any chances—I had to see a doctor.
At the hospital, since it wasn’t very big, I didn’t have to wait long. After getting the appointment slip, my turn came in just 10-15 minutes. The doctor examined my wound and very first question he asked if the dog was a pet or a stray. When I told him it was a stray, he immediately recommended an anti-rabies injection.
As soon as the doctor said that I needed an anti-rabies injection, I panicked and asked, "But isn’t this injection only for bites from mad dogs?"
The doctor gave a reassuring smile and explained, "That’s a common misunderstanding. Any stray dog, even if it seems normal, can carry the rabies virus without showing symptoms. Once symptoms appear in humans, rabies is almost always fatal. That’s why we never take chances. The anti-rabies vaccine is a preventive measure—it ensures that even if the dog was infected, the virus won’t spread in your body. It’s a simple but life-saving step."
Hearing this, I realized the seriousness of the situation. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the injection. The thought of injections scared me, but I knew it was necessary. The first shot was painful, and the doctor informed me that I would need four more doses over the next few weeks.
What Happened to the Dog?
The next day, I went back to the same street to check on the dog. It was still there, but this time, it looked calm. I went to the uncle’s shop first, thanked him for his help, and then asked, "Uncle, is this dog mad? I was really scared yesterday."
Uncle smiled and shook his head. "No Son, this dog isn’t mad. It usually roams around here, and I’ve never seen it act aggressively before. Maybe it got scared or felt threatened at that moment."
Hearing this, I felt a bit relieved. Some other locals also joined the conversation and said the same thing—it was generally a friendly dog that had never bitten anyone before.
A Few Days Later
A few days later, I noticed that the dog was no longer there. A sudden fear gripped me—what if something had happened to it?
I had heard a rumour that if a dog bites someone and then dies soon after, the person bitten could also be at risk. Panic set in, and without wasting any time, I rushed to the nearby shop where the kind uncle was.
Breathless and worried, I asked, “Uncle, that dog… where did it go? It hasn’t died, has it?”
The uncle chuckled and reassured me, "Oh dear, why are you so worried? There’s no problem. Municipal authorities took it away. They’ll give it proper vaccinations, and now it will be cared for in a shelter.”
That news gave me a sense of relief—it wasn’t the dog’s fault, and at least now, it would get proper care.
With time, my wound healed, and so did my fear. The experience taught me some important lessons—
- Always be aware of a dog's body language. If a dog looks scared or aggressive, it’s best to keep a safe distance.
- If a dog bites you, act fast. Wash the wound immediately and seek medical help without delay.
- Anti-rabies shots are crucial. Don’t take any risks—rabies is a deadly disease.
- Not all stray dogs are dangerous. Most of them react out of fear rather than aggression.
As I walked past that street again one evening, I realized how differently things could have turned out. I smiled, knowing that the dog was safe, and so was I. And with that, this unexpected chapter in my life finally came to a close. Since that day, I have become more careful around stray dogs, but I no longer fear them. Instead, I try to understand them better.
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Petofy - Everything Pets is completely pet dedicated website. Petofy connects pet parents, pet service providers, Pet lover and veterinarians on a single place.
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By Rachel Deeming20 days ago in Motivation
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Comments (2)
Wow! Thats a great lesson. Well, make sure dogs don’t bite! Good work!
What a great teaching story to share with all.