Bulli Ray Training Was The Difference Between Life &
Death at Peace River
When Joe Mackey set out on his route last July, he had no idea that he would soon be surrounded in a backyard by three vicious attack dogs. “It all happened so quickly,” said Joe, a 22 year veteran meter reader for the Peace River Rural Electric Co-Op in
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Joe had been reading the meter at this particular house for years and had never had a problem with the dogs. “When the third dog, a boxer, came up I realized they were trying to surround me and take me down,” continued Mackey. “I knew that if that happened it would be over.”
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Just a month earlier, Joe, along with about 60 other
There are over 56 million dogs in the . That’s one dog for every 2.5 households. That means on a typical 500 house route, a meter reader will encounter about 200 dogs. About 23% or 46 of these dogs would be considered “aggressive”. “The number of dogs that have been bred and trained to attack humans is significantly higher than it was just 5 years ago,” says
. Bulli Ray is the country’s leading occupational dog-bite safety training company. They have trained over 180,000 postal workers and currently train over 4,000 utility personnel annually. The company’s emphasis is on understanding the attack tendencies of individual breeds and knowing practical field measures to avoid serious injury. / Bulli Ray training is unique in that they bring out live dogs and allow class members to see and experience the tenacity of simulated attacks. “Our initial training lasts about 3 hours,” explained Robinson. “Demonstrating attacks with live dogs and allowing our attendees to experience the force from the dogs brings a reality and sense of urgency that video or books can’t deliver. It really helps drive home the measures they’ll need to take in a crisis situation.”
Joe’s story is becoming all too common as the populations and popularity of larger dogs like the pit bull, rotweiller, ersas, Argentinian Dogo, and other aggressive breeds explode across both urban and rural landscapes. This trend is posing a very clear and present danger to meter readers line technicians, bill collectors and other utility personnel making home visits.
For lead trainers Mitzi and Anthony Robinson, that’s what it’s all about. “We want people to be equipped with the knowledge and understanding to know what to do when they are attacked,” continued Robinson. “And those measures can vary depending on the breed and the environment.” Peace River’s Director of Safety, Training and Loss Control, Roberta Kimelton, like many safety directors was a little skeptical about dog bite training, but after talking with her meter readers and the folks at Bulli Ray, quickly realized it was a genuine issue. “I discovered that there are a lot of pit bulls and rotweillers on our routes-- even in our rural area,” stated Kimelton. “If these dogs pose a danger, then we have a responsibility to provide training for our people.” Kimelton’s initial skepticism changed quickly, “The training session itself was excellent! I can honestly say the Bulli Ray training was the best safety training we have received from anyone on any topic.” Just weeks after the training was when Joe Mackey was attacked. “I remember the day after Joe Mackey’s attack, everybody was talking about how the Bulli Ray training was what saved his life. I’m so glad we did it.” Peace River , like most utility companies, is serious about safety. Their proactive philosophy has protected many people from harm. In fact, they have achieved over 1 million hours without a loss-time accident. They have come to realize the boundaries of occupational safety extend far beyond live electrical current . “I believe safety is a behavior – not a set of punitive rules. It’s how you do your job every day,” stated Kimelton. “If our people are encountering potentially dangerous dogs then we’re obligated to prepare them for it and encourage them to be alert and knowledgeable. The dog bite safety training was all about giving our people the knowledge and the skills to deal with something they may encounter on any given day.” Mike Rouse, Peace River Meter Reader Supervisor agrees, “We had some of these dogs biting holes in our truck tires. These things are not your ordinary pets, which is why the Bulli Ray training was absolutely necessary.” . Bringing the dogs and training on site costs money, but one training seminar costs less than a serious loss-time injury accident and recovery. “If you’re serious about safety and you understand the costs of lost work days, hospital costs, and the potential costs of reconstructive surgery or a permanent disability, this kind of training is very affordable,” concluded Kimelton. “Having been through what we have with Joe, it’s clear to me that occupational dog bite training for field personnel is absolutely essential.” Joe Mackey agrees. “I would have never known what to do to escape. I am so thankful to
After suffering multiple dog bite wounds, some serious, Joe Mackey was treated at the hospital emergency room and spent the weekend recuperating at home. He returned to work the following Monday – a little sore, but not missing a day of work. The dogs that attacked Joe have been removed, although the owners have requested that they be returned. He continues to read meters on his same route – mindful of potential dog attacks, but confident in his knowledge on how to defend against them.