I refer to the recent press report headlined Four dogs attack three-year-old.

What had happened is truly sad and what that little boy went through must have surely been a traumatic experience for him. I wish him a speedy recovery. I live in Klang and I have seen this pack of dogs (which I believe is the same pack) in the surrounding area on numerous occasions. I have seen them crossing the road, chasing one another playfully and I have even made friends with one of them and had successfully re-homed him.

To all the readers out there, this incident could have been avoided. There are precautions we have to take and factors to consider when confronted or caught in a situation with dogs: be it by a pack or a lone dog, be it a stray or a kept dog. Below are a few pointers which I hope will help your readers to help themselves when in such a situation.

  1. Our body language plays a big role and it speaks volumes to the dogs; whether we are friends or foes, to attack or retreat.

  2. When you see a pack of approaching dogs, avoid them and take another route. They attack when they feel threatened. So avoid eye contact. Make a silent retreat.

  3. If you have a small child with you, carry up your child. When confronted by a pack of dogs a small child is in a very vulnerable position and is an easy target for them.

  4. Remember that dogs, especially strays, have to fight for survival. As such, when their territory is encroached or threatened their aggressiveness rears its ugly head.

  5. When on heat, male dogs tend to be aggressive.

  6. Sounds such as screams may sometimes confuse them. For example, a child on a bicycle sees a dog and screams out of fear. To the dog, it's like a signal, 'Playtime!'. The dog chases the child, child falls from bike, dog pounces on child playfully, child kicks at dog out of fear, more screams and more cries - dog gets confused and bites back.

  7. Education plays an important role. Take your child to animal shelters. Introduce him to puppies. Give him the exposure.

  8. Local councils can play a part by helping in spaying and neutering. They also need to rethink their present strategies on stray management.