The Dog Bite Blog

Every year, nearly 5 million people are bitten by dogs, with 20% of dog bite injury victims needing medical attention. Between 2010 and 2012, nearly 360,000 children were victims of dog bites. Most dog bite injuries are caused by familiar dogs; the family pet, or the pet of a friend or relative.

Any dog, regardless of sex, size, or breed, can bite. Children are particularly susceptible to bites in the face and neck areas because of their size.

The AVMA has compiled a list of reasons that dogs may bite. As The Dog Bite Injury Lawyer, I wanted to share some of those reasons with you.

Dogs may bite…

…because they are scared

…because they get startled

…because they are stressed

…because they are provoked

…because they are chained up and feel cornered

…because they feel threatened

…because they are sick

…because they are injured

…because they were not properly socialized

…or for many other reasons.

If you or someone you care about has been injured by a dog bite, or any other bite or attack by a pet, call me today to learn more about your rights. As a dog bite injury victim, you should not be responsible for the financial burden associated with a dog bite injury.

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Source(s):

AVMA.org

In a bizarre news story, Detroit Free Press is reporting that a man was found naked after a dog attack in Detroit on October 7.

Details of the story are sketchy at best; it is unclear what caused the dogs to attack, why the man was on the property where he was found, or whether he was naked to begin with or if the dogs removed his clothing in the attack. What is clear is that the man was attacked by multiple dogs, some reports saying up to 12 dogs were involved, and that he sustained horrific injuries in the attack which ultimately resulted in the loss of his hands and feet.

The owner of the property and the dogs is now in police custody and is being held on an unrelated issue. It has been alleged that a neighbor had complained to the owner previously about the dogs being allowed to roam unrestrained, and that the same neighbor had called animal control numerous times to complain about the same group of dogs.

The investigation is still unfolding.

Think being bitten your new kitten is no big deal? Think again!

A recent study by the Mayo Clinic has shown that cat bites lead to serious infections and hospitalization more often than people realize. The study looked at around 200 cat-bite patients between 2009 and 2011. Researchers found that one-third of patients bitten on the hand ended up in hospital. Of those patients that did end up hospitalized, two-thirds needed surgery to resolve the infection from the bite.

The reason for this high infection rate isn't that cats' mouths are dirtier than dogs' mouths. It's that cats' teeth are sharper and can penetrate more deeply, basically injecting bacteria from the cat's mouth into the victim's tissue. Bites to the hand are particularly prone to infection.

Ultimately, all cat bites should be taken seriously. A bite from a family pet (who eats a good diet and is relatively healthy) can be just as dangerous as a bite from an unknown stray. See a doctor right away if the cat breaks the skin.

Just like with dog bites, an experienced lawyer could help you to recover some or all of your medical costs if you are bitten by a cat. It is especially important to talk to a lawyer when the pet that bites you belongs to a family member or friend; your lawyer can often work directly with the pet owner's insurance company to get your costs covered, which could help avoid awkwardness and bad feelings. 

Did you know that July 5th is normally the busiest day of the year at animal shelters? According to the American Humane Association (AHA), many pets run away from home because they get scared by fireworks. Dogs who are let outside alone, or who are left chained, will sometimes run away from fear of the noise, or in order to search for family members who have left them home alone.

Even well-known pets can behave unpredictably when stressed. In order to reduce the stress on your pet, the AHA recommends keeping them indoors, away from too much excitement and celebration, and in a quiet location during fireworks displays.

It's especially important to keep an eye on your pet when children are around. Kids can really add to the stress of an already anxious animal, and even well-behaved pets have been known to bite or attack when they feel cornered or scared. Animal attacks, can be terrifying, painful, and traumatic, especially for children. They can also ruin friendships and be costly to the pet owner. It's in everybody's best interest to prevent these incidents.  

I always recommend that parents teach their children how to approach dogs and other pets; this page by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some dog-bite facts and tips for teaching kids how to behave around dogs.

Ultimately, pet owners are responsible for their animals and liable if they bite or attack. The best thing you can do for your pets this Fourth of July is keep them inside, give them lots of space, and try to keep them calm and comforted. 

We all like to think that we are ready in case of an emergency, but is that the truth? Are you and your family prepared for a disaster, like a tornado, flood, or major earthquake? What about your pet?

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently released a checklist of items that pet owners should have in an emergency kit in case disaster strikes. Below are some of the items from the HSUS checklist.

Food and Water: Your kit should contain enough food for your each of your pets for at least five days. Don't forget bowls and a manual can opener if you're including canned food. Pets don't necessarily need as much water as humans (one gallon per person per day recommended), but it's a good idea to have an extra gallon or two of water on hand in case you or your pets need to be rinsed or washed.

Medicine: Pack medications and a copy of vet records in a waterproof container. Be  sure to update vet records each year, and discard any expired medicine. You might also consider a pet first aid guide and kit. 

Waste:  Don't forget, your pets will need to use the bathroom during an emergency, just like you. Pack kitty litter and a litter box (a disposable one would work), and a scoop for your cats. Pack some plastic bags to dispose of used litter or solid dog waste.

Collars and leashes: If your pet doesn't normally wear a collar, ensure you have one in your disaster kit for each pet. Include a strong leash or harness for each pet as well.

Crates: Each larger pet should have a sturdy crate that gives them enough room to stand, lie down, and turn around. Smaller pets can share a large crate. Keep a spare blanket or towels in the crate so you'll have them in an emergency. HSUS suggests packing all the other items from your emergency kit into the crate so they are easy to find when you need them.

Information: Along with your vet records and medication, be sure to throw in a recent photo and description of each pet. That way if you are separated, you can show people what your pet looks like and prove that they are yours when they are found. You should also write down any important information about your pet, like medical conditions, behavior issues, or their favorite toy. Include their feeding and medicine schedules, and the name of your veterinarian.

One thing not mentioned on this checklist is getting your pet microchipped. A microchip will make it easier to reunite you with your pet if you become separated. I would also recommend using a web-based platform to store recent digital photos of your pets, so you can spread the word using social media if you become separated during an emergency. 

Monday, May 19th kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week, a public service campaign that creates awareness to the problem of dog bites and emphasizes the need for increased pet owner responsibility.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) conclude that small children, the elderly and Postal Service carries are the most frequent victims of dog attacks.

A total of 5,581 postal carriers were bit or attacked be dogs in 2013. To bring awareness to National Dog Bite Prevention Week and the need to address this issue, the Postal Service has released the top 30 cities (comprised of 62 where some hold the same number ) where dog attacks occurred. Is your city listed?

The USPS encourages pet owners to do the following to keep postal carriers safe:

If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to your front door, place your dog into a separate room and close the door before opening the front door. Dogs have been known to burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to get at strangers.

Dog owners should remind their children about the need to keep the family dog secured. Parents should remind their children not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet as the dog may see handing mail to a child as a threatening gesture.

The Postal Service places the safety of its employees as a top priority. If a letter carrier feels threatened by a vicious dog or if a dog is running loose, the owner may be asked to pick up the mail at the Post Office until the carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If the dog is roaming the neighborhood, the pet owner's neighbors may be asked to pick up their mail at the Post Office as well.

How to be a Responsible Dog Owner

·         Obedience training can teach dogs proper behavior and help owners control their dogs in any situation.

·          Dogs can be protective of their territory and may interpret the actions of a letter carrier as a threat. Please take precautions when accepting mail in the presence of your pet.

·         When a letter carrier comes to your home, keep your dog inside, away from the door, in another room or on a leash.

·         Dogs that haven't been properly socialized, receive little attention or handling, or are left tied up for long periods of time frequently turn into biters.

Avoiding Attacks

·         Never leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.

·        Don't run past a dog. The dog's natural instinct is to chase and catch you.

·        If a dog threatens you, don't scream. Avoid eye contact. Try to remain motionless until the dog leaves, then back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.

·          Never approach a strange dog, especially one that's tethered or confined.

·         Don't disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.

·         Anyone wanting to pet a dog should first obtain permission from the owner.

·         Always let a dog see and sniff you before petting the animal.

·        If you believe a dog is about to attack you, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle.

·         If you are knocked down by a dog, curl into a ball and protect your face with your hand.

Here is an infographic detailing dog bite statistics across the U.S. 

_{Photo courtesy of http://www.tsrinjurylaw.com/minnesota-dog-bite-lawyer}

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For more information about dog bite laws where you live, or to contact Attorney Jason Waechter who has spent two decades cementing his reputation for results. Jason and his team of vetted affiliate lawyers in every state specialize in Dog Bite & Dog Attack cases. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Dog Bite please call us today at 1-800-708-LIFE (5433)

One way to help prevent dog bites is to pay attention to a dog's body language.

Dogs usually communicate through body language like tail wagging and direction of their ears; learning and watching for signals like these could help prevent you and your children from harmful dog interaction.

Some signals to watch for:

- Lip licking – when a dog is anxious, they will quickly stick out their tongue and lick their lips in a fast, little flick.

- Yawning – a dog yawns when they are feeling stressed or uncomfortable.

- Turning their face away – when a dog turns its face away, it means that it is uncomfortable with the situation and is trying to avoid what is or may happen.

- Shaking off – while dogs do shake to dry off, they shake for other reasons as well. They use shaking as a reset button. When a situation is too stressful, dogs may shake to help distress.

- Freezing – when dogs become frozen it usually it is their last attempt to tell you to back-off before they snap or bite.

Here is a graphic to help understand dog's behavior:

For more information visit:

Helping Children Be Safe Around Dogs

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For more information about dog bite laws where you live, or to contact Attorney Jason Waechter who has spent two decades cementing his reputation for results. Jason and his team of vetted affiliate lawyers in every state specialize in Dog Bite & Dog Attack cases. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a Dog Bite please call us today at 1-800-708-LIFE (5433)