Retractable leashes pose problems for people and their pets

Heather Todd didn’t bring a leash with her the day she took her pooch Penny to a pond near Boston in 2005. So she borrowed a retractable dog leash to help keep her Labrador retriever in check.  But it didn’t. The 90-pound dog suddenly took off running and dragged Todd across the sand.

When she came to a stop and recovered her wits, she spotted something lying on the sand. With horror, she realized it was a human index finger; with greater horror, she realized it was her own. The cord of the retractable leash had looped around her finger and pulled taut when Penny bolted.

“It just cut it off like a sharp knife,” Todd says.

She wrapped her hand in a towel, grabbed the finger, and headed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to reattach it. Todd, who’s now in nursing school, says there are times when her missing finger causes problems. “I get by. You just adjust,” she says.

Todd’s story may sound like a freak accident, but retractable leashes are responsible for a surprising number of injuries each year, including amputations.

In 2007 there were 16,564 hospital-treated injuries associated with leashes, according to Consumer Union's analysis of statistics collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, about 10.5 percent involved children 10 and younger; 23.5 percent involved injuries to the finger. The CPSC's data does not parse the leashes into types but it's likely that the amputations were caused by retractable leashes.

The most common injuries reported were burns and cuts, usually sustained when the cord came in contact with skin as it rapidly paid out from the handle of a leash. Others occurred when the cord got wrapped around part of the owner or the dog.

Todd sued the maker of the leash as well as the distributor, as have others who have been injured by retractable leashes. Todd told us that the company settled her case for an undisclosed amount.

Retractable-leash makers do put some pretty stark warnings about their products on their Web sites and on the packaging. Germany-based Flexi, one of the largest manufacturers of the leashes, has a long page of warnings on it Web site. Here’s how it begins:

“To avoid the risk of eye or face injury and cuts, burns, and amputations to your body or the body of another person from the leash cord/tape or all belt and hook, (sic) read and follow these Warnings and Directions for Use before using your Flexi leash.”

The CPSC has announced only one recall of retractable leashes in recent years. Last September 223,000  “Slydog” brand retractable leashes (at right) were recalled after several complaints were received by the agency about the metal clip breaking and flying off. The company subsequently changed to plastic clips.

Karen Peak, a professional dog trainer in northern Virginia who runs a Web site called SafeKidsSafeDogs, says she often observes injuries from retractable leashes—and has experienced a couple herself.

“One day a dog got away and I grabbed the cord to keep it from running into the street and it gave me a painful cut between my fingers,” she says. “And it was a little dog, a Maltese.”

Peak says she doesn’t allow retractable leashes in her training classes and thinks they should only be used on well-behaved dogs that respond to voice commands.

“They should never be used on neighborhood walks or in stores or other situations where there might be distractions that can make a dog suddenly bolt,” she says. In those types of situations, she advises owners to use a solid leash no longer than six feet long.

Peak says dogs can suffer some of the same types of injuries from retractable dog leashes as people do. In addition, dogs suffer injury to their necks and backs when they are suddenly jerked to a stop when they run out the length of the leash.  

Comments

[Lili Ro]

Retractable leashes can be dangerous. No question about that. The manufacturers are all pretty frank about it. I have owned three and have always seen big warnings on the cover. That said, I wouldn't give up my retractable-leash walks with my dog for a million bucks. I love to allow him to sniff and trot around, behaving like a normal dog. However, as with any liberty, these walks come with limits. My dog is required to heel when I tell him to heel, to stop when I tell him to stop, and is free to wander around to the full extent of the retractable leash when I tell him, 'go sniff'. We do this in safe areas, but I recognize there is a risk, because he has a strong (VERY strong) prey drive. From time to time, if he takes off after a squirrel that I haven't given him permission to chase... I JUST LET GO of the bloody thing. Simple, no? The reason I can do this is that he may only 'go sniff' where there are no cars or other dogs around, and I have trained him to stop, sit and stay whether he's next to me or 50 feet away staring longingly at a squirrel up in a branch. When he's on the street, the leash is locked at the same length as a short leash. Common sense won't always save us from injury--accidents do happen--but common sense and good training are what allow my dog and I to have our lovely long rambles together with the retractable lead.

[Finger Guy]

I almost lost a finger just over a month ago to this darn leash. That thin rope wrapped around the top of my finger, just abover the top knuckle, and literally popped it off. I was actually very lucky, just missed the tendons and I will make a 100% recovery. But those leashes are dangerous. Since my accident I have heard horror stories about 3rd degree burns, amputations, and even skin and nail being removed, entirely, from the finger. Crazy!

[Ana]

I got scared while the article. I never thought that rectractable leashes can be that dangerous.

[Sue]

ANYONE CAN BE A VICTIM OF THESE LEASHES.

I'm a victim of a retractable leash. It wasn't even caused by my dog or my leash. Another dog (big lab) got away from it's owner who had the leash locked at about an 8 foot length. As that dog ran past me dragging the leash it hit my ankle. The plastic case began to do a circular swing around my ankle wrapping the cord around tightly several times. The dog is still running and my leg is jerked behind me and I'm thrown to the ground. To my horror the leash is now being ripped from my ankle. Imagine pulling that string on your lawn mower. It's been six years and I still have a bad scar.

[Anon]

If people think only "stupid and disrespectful" owners get hurt by these leashes, you are not only wrong, but also ignorant. Anyone can get hurt by these, including your pets. They have thin skin just like us, and their limbs are a lot smaller, so you can imagine how quickly a pet can get hurt. Take this example, today, I was walking my two small dogs, a pug and a boston terrier, so they're tiny; one of them got startled by a walking neighbour and jumped, pully her leashe and causing me to get a bad burn on my ankle. It's painful and it all swollen. Avoid this and use the good old regular leashes. I've used retractable ones for years, but somehow today, I have completely started to hate them. Be safe and keep your pets safe as well people.

[Maureen Marcotte]

I have had both types of retractable leashes-the string and the flat strap. I love them. I had an incident with the string but still have all my digits. I like the flat tape one much better due to the safety factor. I keep it short except at the dog beach and then still keep my dog away from others.

[tammy lawrenz]

I used/use a retractable leash when jogging with my golden. I realized I was getting tennis elbow from the strain of pulling her back when she lunged at other dogs tied out. I liked it because in enabled me free movement of both my arms while jogging but the tennis elbow took a long time to heal. I think caution should be used with retractibles. I recently had mine fully extended when my dog lunged and I almost ended up on my face in the middle of the road. That can happen to me when using a regular leather leash too if I give her too much leash and the unexpected visual stimulation happens. Safe control is the key. Depends on the dog, you and the type of leash and the manner in which it is used.

[MW]

I was injured when walking with my husband and our 20 pound well behaved Boston Terrier. We'll never know what caught her attention, but she bolted from in front of us to behind us
at a full run. Instinctively, my husband raised his arm over his head in an attempt to spare me contact with the leash. I was forced to the ground backward and didn't get my arms out to break the fall. Never knew what hit me. Sustained a concussion and 3 1/2 inch rope burn on my neck. Went to ER next morning, had C-T scan and MRI. Missed a month of work. Took 5 weeks for the Post Concussive Syndrome to clear and the Drs were unable to assure me I'd ever be 100%.Scary. ER Drs say they frequently see injuries with retractable leashes-particularly hand and finger. Were we stupid? Maybe, but accidents happen, and that one won't happen to us again.

[Gobi's Mom]

How about we all use some common sense... If you've got a dog that will bolt after a squirrel or who spooks easily, why don't you use the "tape" lead... I have a shih tzu who is laid back and responds reliably to verbal commands. I use a retractable lead with him. My last dog, however, was very excitable and I only used a tape lead with him... No injuries have ever been sustained by either dog...

[weird]

I have used retractable and conventional leashes, and for me nothing beats a 6 ft leather regular leash. I have gone back to using only the traditional type, because the question of what happens in a high stress situation and the cord breaks, just makes me too nervous. I have been in off-leash areas where my dogs are busy running and playing and someone gets in there with their retractable leash fully extended. The cord is impossible to see and with a large distance between the dog and the owner you cannot tell they are connected by a thin cord. My dogs have run into the cord and have been caught around their neck and flipped. But the reason I hate them the most is they seem to attract irreponsible ill-informed people who probably shouldn't have a dog in the first place, so they can let the leash play out enough to allow the dog to get even further onto my property to have a dump on my lawn, while they stand on the sidewalk pretending their dog's action has nothing to do with them.

[E. Nowak]

I love (sarcasm) these people on here that say that if you use these horrible things and something goes wrong, it's YOUR fault. Why? Because you didn't foresee every possible danger? Wow, I didn't know humans were clairvoyant. No, if the company knows that these things can cause real injuries like these described, they should stop making them. At the very least, they should be required to print -- in big red letters -- warnings on the package. NOT on their websites! (If I have to go to the internet to find out about the dangers of EVERY product I buy....? Well, it really makes me think twice about buying stuff now.) Product makers should think about how a product is used and test that product in real world situations before they put them on the market. Consumers shouldn't be guinea pigs!!!!

[Tina Valant]

Many now have a warning NOT to use around small children. Wonder why? Retractable/flexi leads are a danger to those who use them, their dogs and anyone nearby:

1) They encourage the dog to get, and stay away from the handler; contrary to sound training priciples.

2) They can easily be pulled from the handler's control. Then the dog is loose with the case clapping the ground behind them (scaring them more). A standard lead has a loop to go around your wrist.

3) They can lead to injuries ranging from cable burns and shoulder problems, to entanglement (leading to falls), canine leg amputations, and loss of an eye (cable broke at dog's collar, boomeranged back to owner's face).

For everyone's safety, we do NOT allow them at dog events. I grit my teeth every time I see one being used, anticipating any of the above - most of which, I have witnessed.

Convenience should never be a substitute for responsible dog ownership and good training practices.

[Jennifer]

I hate these things. My mom uses one for her dog. When she asks me to take him out when I visit her, I remember why I don't use one for my dog. I let him get about six feet then I lock it and use it like a regular leash. Also don't get near a car with them as it will scratch the paint off in seconds.

If you think you have to be stupid to get hurt by one of these leashes, you yourself are ignorant. Should they outlaw them? Probably not, but they should have safety tips listed on them. I think they are the stupidest idea anyway...let your dog run full force for 20 feet then be jerked to a sudden stop and see if someone doesn't eventually get hurt.

[Maureen Cafferty]

I own several retractable leashes and love them. I have had a couple of minor incidents but I know they can be dangerous. It is obvious that they can be dangerous. The manufacturers clearly state that they can be dangerous. DON'T SUE IF THE MISTAKE WAS YOURS. I, too, do not agree with the person that borrowed a retractable leash. You must use it carefully and know that it is possible for something to happen. If the product fails due to manufacturing that is another matter, but sometimes my leash has become stuck due to dirt from falling on the ground, again due to my use of the leash, not the manufacturer. I have found that it is much easier to walk my dogs with these retractable leashes than with the shorter 6 foot leashes. My dogs are more likely to pull me down with short leashes. Will you sue the manufacturer of the short leashes if you are pulled down and scrape up your body seriously? This can happen, too. If the retractables are outlawed, I will stock up on these leashes. I also know myself and know that if I hurt myself from these leashes, I will not sue the manufacturer. If you are in a car accident due to your own mistake or because you don't know how to use a feature of the car do you sue the car manufacturer? Life is full of possibilities of injury. We will get hurt. When I walk my dogs, I also stay away from other people, because I know it might be possible to hurt others with my leash, but I stay away from people and tell them to stay away from me. I would never loan my retractable leash to someone who doesn't know how to use them.

[Capt Ben]

I have used a retractable leash for several years, no problems. All of my dogs have been large, over 80 pounds. The use of this leash is as safe as the person using it. Stupid is as Stupid does. Buy a good retractable and use common sense. Hopefully those less than competent won`t cause the rest of use to loose our rights thru unfounded lawsuits. Or put the price out of reach as the company raises the price to cover their losses. When you sue a company you are merely raising the price to the rest of us.

[Dana C.]

The retractable leashes are a hazard, and I wish they were outlawed. By the nature of it, the handle can't be held securely, and if the dog pulls, the person's fingers can open and the dog is gone, let alone lose a finger, as described in the story. If the leash is all the way out, there's no way to pull your dog in quickly and you need a second hand anyway to use the gadget on it. It makes no sense to use this kind of leash.
A leash with a loop handle allows you to loop it over your wrist; if the dog pulls, it's not likely to be able to pull away. Yes, I've seen people hold the loop handle with just their fingertips & that's unsafe, but the loop handle leash is safer, thus makes for a much nicer walk with your dog. And isn't that what it's all about?

[LORRAINE TOMMASO]

I sympathize for anyone getting injured but sometimes you just have to admit that you were the true cause of the problem. I use retractable leashes on my 95 lb. male weimaraner. Three times over 9 years, I was floored by dog's sudden charge (I weigh 150 lbs. and am athletic) but each time I wasn't paying attention and just failed to drop the handle (or have my dog in proper control);the same thing would have occurred with a regular leash. Sometimes, accidents happen when you're using a tool carelessly or inattentively; but that's part of life. I avoid my kitchen knives blades, my sewing machine's needle, and I never hold onto a thin rope or cord that might suddenly get whipped through my hand, especially when there is a comfortable, safe handle attached to it.
I'm impressed with the leash's ability to withstand so much stress and it's longevity; it's a joy to use.

[Sondra]

I am a professional dog walker and I will tell you firsthand retractable leads can be dangerous for people and dogs alike, whether you are experienced or not. I had one retractable lead snap when a dog I was walking suddenly bolted after spotting another dog across the street. Fortuanately I was able to grab my client dog before any harm came to her or the other dog. I have also experienced a bad leg burn and had the back of my leg sliced open when another dog bolted after a squirrel. The common denominator in both situations was the "cord" style lead as opposed to the "tape" style lead. Not all dogs can be safely and comfortably walked on a retractable lead. But if you want to use one the tape style appears to be less problematic than the cord style and the only one I will now use with my clients.

[Dadvocate]

Careful all of you people who comment supporting retractable leashes, you may be hurting the cases of other people who want to sue, and they may in turn sue you for lawsuit endangerment!

[amy yoste]

I would NEVER recommend a retractable leash to anyone for a small dog or a large one! I witnessed a greyhound breaking a leg when the handle of a retractable leash was pulled from it's hanlder's grip. You may think that you can brace yourself from losing your grasp on the handle, but it is not possible to anticipate any and all circumstances that can arise. These leashes are obviously dangerous to both humans and animals.

[Colleen Hurley]

I WROTE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE FLEXI RETRACTABLE LEASH ON 3/31/09. AS I GLANCED AT SOME OF THE OTHER COMMENTS, IT ANGERED ME HOW SOME PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS, CAN CALL PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BY THIS PRODUCT DUMB, UNTRAINED DOG, ETC. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER! NOT ONLY WAS I HURT, BUT SO HAVE MANY OTHERS! TO RIDICULE THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE FLEXI IS JUST IGNORANCE!! MAYBE, YOU JUST HAVEN'T HAD YOUR BAD EXPERIENCE YET. DON'T RIDICULE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BY A PRODUCT, YOU MAY BE THE NEXT VICTIM OF FLEXI! P.S. MY DOG HAS BEEN THROUGH OBEIDEMCE TRAINING AND WEIGHS 3LBS. 20Z. AND THIS HAPPENED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO HAS CONTROL (HUMAN OR PET), BELLA HAD HER FLEXI FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE THESE ACCIDENTS OCCURED. ALSO, JUST WAIT UNTIL IT LOCKS UP ON YOU, AND IS OF NO USE ANYMORE FOR THE PRICE YOU PAID.

[Toula's Owner]

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!!!! Was the lease faulty? If not its your fault for not thinking or being prepared. If I had been out without a lease instead of boworring one I return home and get the correct lead for the job!

[C Hoffman]

This is another case of people using a "tradegy" as a winning lottery ticket. I walk a golden retriever on a retractable without problem or incident. It allows the dog to act more naturally and still be controlled and safe. There is a certain amount of sick humor in that the leash in question was borrowed not purchased, mfg got shafted by the system twice.

[Colleen Hurley]

I TOO PURCHASED ONE OF THESE CORD LEASHES. I HAVE SEVERE ARTHRITIS, AND THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO WALK MY YORKIE. BOY WAS I WRONG!! MY FINGER HAS BEEN CAUGHT TWICE, AND ON ONE INSTANCE BELLA WAS EXCITED WHEN SHE SAW MY NEIGBOR AND WRAPPED THE CORD AROUND MY LEGS TWICE CAUSING ME TO FALL IN EXTREME PAIN!! MY NEIGHBOR RAN IN HER HOUSE TO GET SCISSORS TO CUT THE CORD TO THIS DARN LEASH DROM MY CALVES! I WAS IN EXTREME PAIN, AND I STILL HAVE MARKS ON MY CLAVES AND BRUISES FROM THIS INCIDENT THREE WEEKS AGO!! THIS IS GOING TO BE RETURNNED ASAP.

[Chris Baker]

Flexi is an especially outstanding leash for training dogs and the company should be congratulated. I've used one for about 10 years now.