Bitten, But Not Broken: Why Getting Bit Didn’t Change My Dedication to Pet Care

The bite happened in a blink, but its impact lingers. The force, the speed, the sheer unexpectedness of it—it was a moment that changed everything in an instant. One second, I was stepping into what should have been a routine visit, and the next, searing pain and the unmistakable realization: I had been bitten.

Shock hit first. Then adrenaline. But fear? That never came.

Instead, what settled in was sadness—deep and heavy. For the dog, who wasn’t acting out of malice but instinct. For the family, now left to grapple with the reality of what happened. And for myself, caught in the middle of a moment that no one wanted, yet one that can never be undone.

It was traumatic. There’s no other word for it. The kind of experience that imprints itself onto you, that lingers in flashes and echoes long after the physical wounds begin to heal. And I am still healing. My body is processing the damage, and my mind is sorting through the emotions—grief, shock, exhaustion.

Then a friend asked me, “Do you think this will change how you feel about pet care?”

The question stopped me in my tracks. Until that moment, it hadn’t even occurred to me to reconsider what I do. The thought of quitting, of walking away, of being afraid—it had never once crossed my mind.

And that’s when I knew, without a doubt, that I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

I understand animal behavior, and I know this wasn’t personal. The dog was doing its job—protecting its home, its family. And in that moment, I was a perceived threat. That’s the reality of working with animals.

But this experience also reinforced something critical: even the most experienced handlers can make mistakes, and safety must always come first. Looking back, I know I shouldn’t have turned my back on the dog. It was a simple misstep, but one with real consequences. In dog handling, body language matters—both theirs and mine. While I have always approached my work with respect and caution, this was a reminder that even small oversights can escalate quickly.

This experience will stay with me. It will shape me. But it will not break me. Because even through the pain, the sadness, the trauma—this is still what I love, what I was meant to do.

I’ll keep healing. I’ll keep learning. And when I’m ready, I’ll keep going. Because that’s who I am.

Disclaimer: The dog pictured is a stock photo and not the actual dog involved in the incident. This image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the specific dog or situation described in my story.