Few people know the importance of pet safety more than 74-year-old Tom Weinman. The Des Moines, Iowa, resident was walking his dog recently when a loose pit bull attacked it, and his pet suffered several bite wounds before the aggressive canine was restrained, the Des Moines Register reports.The incident followed the death of a 3-year-old girl in Iowa and brings to light a significant issue when it comes to dog attacks. Weinman said that the incident came out of nowhere, but dog safety experts say that an animal can bite even if it does not appear to be angry.
"One of the major misconceptions is that if a dog is wagging its tail, it must be friendly. That is totally a fallacy," professional dog trainer Dana Fedman told the news source. She added that people like walkers and joggers should resist the urge to turn and run from a dog that appears to be aggressive and instead just stay still.
In addition to how one acts, carrying pepper spray as an animal repellent can be an added safety boost. When sprayed into the face of an animal, it will temporarily disable the aggressor without harming it.
