Utility workers trained to avoid dog attacks

OHIO -- A local utility worker is recovering after being mauled by dog while she worked.

The dog is now at the Animal Resource Center.

Utility companies are answering our questions about how they keep employees safe.

 

 

They say attacks occurrence or twice a year, but they train workers to look for signs of a dog. That could be a dog bowl in the yard or maybe a path worn in the grass.

The dog attacked while the USIC worker was in its yard on Sebring Drive in Huber Heights.

We asked other utility companies how they prepare their workers for incidents such as this.

“We go to a residence and there’s multiple dogs in the backyard, we actually will not enter that backyard, until it’s safe,” said Kathy Storm, Dayton Power and Light.

Employees will even knock on a customer’s door if there’s a dog outside who needs to be secured.
It is something Angela Green says she wasn’t given the chance to do.

“You know, typically they knock at our door and let me know that they want to get in the backyard and if they can’t they’ll leave a note on the door to call. So, I can’t understand. She didn’t even knock because my daughter was in there and so this is the outcome,” said Angela Green, dog’s owner.
Green says he isn’t normally an aggressive dog.

“I know that that’s the label because he is a pit, that yeah he’s vicious and no that’s not really the case.”

For the hundreds of Vectren workers who are in the field on a daily basis, the company spokesperson says they give customers a window of when they think they’ll be working at their home.

“And that way, they could react accordingly to make sure they had their dog put up or on a leash or if the dog was more prone to attacking people it could be remedied before the tech even arrives.”

They also tell employees to avoid sudden movements.

They also carry dog repellant and are told to get back against the nearest wall and work themselves out of the situation.

It will protect workers, but it will also prevent people from going through the pain of losing a pet.

“My dog is a good dog. I’m a single mom and it kind of makes me feel a little better knowing I have a dog, you know, at least they hear the bark and somebody wanted to do something, but I feel absolutely horrible at this point,” said Green.

We have a call into USIC, but have not heard back.

(WDTN - April 17, 2014)

Earlier:

• Pit bull attacks utility worker in Huber Heights