Experts: A dog attack on a person doesn't automatically mean euthanasia

Experts discussed on the TV24 program "Nedēļa. Post scriptum" how authorities should respond when a dog attacks a person, and whether this automatically means the animal must be euthanized.

Ilmārs Dūrītis, a doctor of veterinary medicine and president of the Latvian Veterinary Association, says any decision on euthanasia should follow a careful assessment of the severity of injuries and the specific circumstances of the incident. In his view, not every injury caused by a dog automatically calls for euthanasia — he cites, for example, cases where a dog bites its own owner or a veterinary assistant during a clinic visit, calling that a different situation altogether. Dūrītis notes that bite-severity scales have already been developed internationally to allow for a more objective assessment of such incidents.

At the same time, he acknowledges that if a dog has caused a person serious bodily harm, it would be absurd to deny the possibility of a legal response. According to Dūrītis, it is essential to strike a balance between public and personal safety on one hand and animal protection on the other.

Risk of repeat attacks

Ilze Pētersone–Godmane, vice president of the Latvian Kennel Federation, agrees that each case must be assessed individually, but points to the possible risk of a repeat attack. In her view, after an attack it must be determined whether the dog could continue to pose a danger to people, and whether keeping it isolated or under strict control would genuinely serve the public interest.

Pētersone–Godmane adds that a dog which has attacked once and experienced a sense of dominance over a person tends to repeat such behavior.

The full interview aired on the TV24 program "Nedēļa. Post scriptum."