Police Release Tips to Avoid Dog Attacks

As police and animal control officers continue to search for t the Nassau County Police Department shared these tips with residents regarding dog attacks.

If you are approached by a dog who you feel may attack you, the United States Humane Society suggests you:

• Resist the impulse to scream and run away.
• Remain motionless, hands at your sides, and avoid eye contact with the dog.
• Once the dog loses interest in you, slowly back away until it is out of sight.
• If the dog does attack, "feed" him your jacket, purse, bicycle, or anything that you can put between yourself and the dog.
• If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball with your hands over your ears and remain motionless. Try not to scream or roll around.
• Never turn your back to a dog and run away. A dog's natural instinct will be to chase and catch you.

Uniformed police, emergency services, and Bureau of Special Operations officers, with assistance from Town of Hempstead Animal Control Officers are actively searching for the two dogs that attacked four people in the span of 30 minutes on Feb. 12 within a five block radius in Lakeview.

Police say it is believed that the same two dogs are responsible for all four attacks. They are described as one brown and one black dog, possibly Pit Bulls.

Anyone with information regarding these dogs is asked to contact the Fourth Precinct at (516) 573-6400. If anyone encounters these animals, please call 911.