Dog Bite Prevention & Response Protocol

Purpose

Protect Spartan Plumbing technicians from dog bites and establish clear response procedures when a bite occurs. Dog encounters are one of the most common field hazards for service technicians entering residential properties.

When to Use

• Every residential service call (prevention awareness)
• When a customer has dogs on the property
• If a technician is bitten or aggressively approached by a dog
• When scheduling or confirming appointments at properties with known dog issues

Prevention — Before Arriving

During appointment confirmation calls, CSRs should ask: "Will there be any pets in the home that we should know about?"

If dogs are noted, request that the homeowner secure them before the technician arrives

Note any pet information in ServiceTitan customer notes for future visits

When arriving at an unfamiliar property, honk your horn or rattle the fence to announce your presence — this helps avoid startling dogs

Prevention — On-Site

Do NOT enter a property if an unsecured aggressive dog is present

If dogs are loose in the yard, stay in your truck and call the customer to secure them

Do not attempt to pet, feed, or interact with unfamiliar dogs

Keep your tool bag between you and any approaching dog as a barrier

Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that may startle dogs

If a dog is growling, showing teeth, or has raised hackles, back away slowly — do not run

If the homeowner cannot or will not secure their dog, politely explain you cannot proceed and contact dispatch to reschedule

Response — If a Bite Occurs

Get to safety — remove yourself from the area with the dog immediately

Apply first aid: wash the wound with soap and water for at least 5 minutes

Apply pressure with a clean cloth if bleeding

Call your supervisor immediately

Seek medical attention — even minor bites can cause infection

Request the homeowner provide proof of the dog's rabies vaccination

File a workplace injury report (see On-the-Job Injury Response SOP)

Document everything: photos of the injury, dog description, homeowner information

Report to Slack (#safety-incidents) within 1 hour

Important Notes

• Spartan Plumbing will cover all medical costs for on-the-job dog bite injuries through workers' compensation
• Never sign a waiver or accept liability at the scene
• A bite from any animal — not just dogs — follows this same procedure
• If a property has a history of aggressive dogs, it should be flagged in ServiceTitan so future techs are warned
• You always have the right to refuse service if you feel unsafe

Related SOPs

• On-the-Job Injury Response — general injury reporting and workers' comp process
• Arrival & Home Protection Procedures — pre-entry safety assessment
• Technician Safety During Payment Collection — personal safety in the field