Dog attacks two social workers in Negotino; one sought emergency care

A social worker from Negotino says she and a colleague were attacked by a domestic dog during a field visit, and that she later sought treatment at an emergency clinic.

Pavlinka Volkanoska, who works at the Centre for Social Work – Negotino, told reporters that the two had previously warned the household to secure the animal because a week earlier it had bitten an elderly woman. She says the dog started barking in the yard, then broke free and repeatedly rushed at them.

"We had previously announced ourselves and asked them to secure the dog because a week ago it bit an old woman. When we arrived, the dog in the yard was barking continuously, and then it came loose and attacked me several times. The dog was unfastened and, while barking, it first went toward my colleague, and then toward me and tried to bite me. The situation lasted about ten minutes. The owner at the beginning was on the terrace, and the dog was only caught on a leash after she went out into the yard, and previously not on a single occasion did they speak to the dog to calm it down," Volkanoska said.

Volkanoska said she did not sustain physical injuries, but that there are marks on her clothing from the animal's contacts and that she documented the incident with photographs. "However, there are traces on my clothing from contact with the dog, from it attacking me several times; I documented it with photographs. The incident caused severe distress and raises a serious question about the safety of employees who perform field work. In addition, the incident is recorded in the police register as a complaint that I was frightened by a tied dog in the yard and for that reason I filed a report. I believe that such a brief description does not fully depict what happened. Therefore I request that the incident be properly documented and that circumstances be reviewed based on the full description and the testimony of the colleague who was present," she added.

The social worker says her aim in speaking publicly is not to single out private individuals but to highlight the need for protection of staff who do fieldwork, for responsible animal control by owners and for professionalism among all actors in society.

Medical records show that Volkanoska presented to the Emergency Service on the following day at 11:20, complaining of an attack by a dog during the performance of her official duties at the Centre for Social Work and reporting anxiety and fear. The case was properly reported to the police.

In a written reply from the Sector for Internal Affairs – Veles, police said: "Regarding the matter, we inform that yesterday at the Police Department - Negotino, P.V. (41) from this town reported that while performing work duties with her colleague as representatives from the Centre for Social Work - Negotino, in the yard, a dog - a domestic pet, which was tied with a chain, owned by Z.D. (52) from Negotino, began to bark, and upon exiting the house, lunged at them, but did not cause injuries. Official interviews were carried out, an official report was prepared, and with regard to the report to the Police Department - Negotino no medical documentation was submitted. Police officers from the Police Department - Negotino issued a written warning to Z.D. and the public prosecutor was notified, according to whom the said incident does not contain elements of a criminal offense."

Photo: press material from the event