Industry Knowledge
This section contains abstracts and general knowledge relating to animal handling from skilled experts from within AsureQuality and other organisations.
Animal Handling related articles
How to successfully and safely use a fire extinguisher in a fire situation:-
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Fire-Extinguisher
http://www.home-security-action.co.uk/how-to-use-fire-extinguishers-uk.html
Canine Cough (PDF 19.1KB)
Dog & Cat Vaccination (PDF 54.1KB)
Vaccination Protocol Response from CAS (a special investigative branch of the Veterinary Association) (PDF 58.9KB)
Best Practice - cleaning & sanitising animal care facilities
Abstract - Ed Frawley's article (www.leerburg.com) on how to break up a dog fight without getting hurt
The safest way to break up a dogfight requires two people. Each person grabs the back feet of one of the dogs. The dogs back feet are then picked up like a wheelbarrow. With the legs up, both dogs are then pulled apart.
Once the dog fight is broken up and the dogs pulled apart, it is critical that the people holding the dogs do not release them or the dog fight will begin again. The two people need to start turning in a circle, or slowly swinging the dogs in a circle while they back away from the other dog. This stops the dog from curling and coming back and biting the person holding their legs. By circling, the dog has to sidestep with its front feet or it will fall on its chin. As long as you slowly continue to back and circle, the dog cannot do any damage to you. To insure that the fight will not begin all over again when you release the dogs, one of the dogs needs to be dragged into an enclosure (i.e. a kennel, garage, another room) before the dog is released. If you do not do this, the dogs will often charge back and start fighting again or if you release the dog too quickly the dog will turn and attack the person who had his feet.
Dog fights are very dangerous to try and break up alone. You should never rush in and try and grab the dogs to pull them apart. They are in high "fight drive" and not thinking clearly. If someone grabs them they will bite without consideration of who or what they are biting.
The worst-case scenario is if you are alone when a serious fight breaks out. There are a couple things that you must bear in mind:
- Keep your cool, you have a job to do.
- Do not waste time screaming at the dogs. It hardly ever works.
- Your goal is still the same; you must break up the fight without getting hurt.
Fetch a leash as quickly as possible (allow the fight to continue while you do this). It is recommended, that you keep a lease hung in a specified designated area, and which is returned once the job is completed. Dogs are almost always locked onto one another. Walk up and loop the leash around the back loin of one of the dogs by either threading the leash through the handle or use the clip. I prefer the thread method. Now slowly back away and drag the dog to a fence or to an object that you can tie the leash to. By doing this, you effectively create an anchor for one of the dogs. Then walk around and grab the back legs of the second dog and drag it away from the dog that is tied up. Remember to turn and circle as they release. Drag the dog into a dog pen or another room before you release the back legs. Go back and take the dog off the fence and put him or her into a dog kennel.
The bottom line on dog fights is that unless you are trained it is best to never step into the middle of them.
AsureQuality Limited acknowledge the standard shown above which is the result of experience and the contribution from many skilled personnel, both within AsureQuality and outside. In recognising that new knowledge, development and technology is continually evolving within the industry, and as a consequence, we anticipate that from time to time these standards will need to be modified to take account of these changes.
