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Pit Bull Bites Unsuspecting Woman's Face

Susy Owen — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:51:55 GMT

You just can't be too safe. A few days ago our website had a story about a previously non-aggressive labrador that bit a toddler in the face. A labrador! Who knew that would happen.

This scienaro, however, is unfortunately all too common: On Saturday night a woman was visiting a friend in Austin, Texas. She was in the backyard of her friends home when a normally non-aggressive 3 year-old pit bull attacked her, necessitating immediate hospital treatment. The victim was treated at Austin Medical Center and required six stitches to her lower lip. She was also treated for a wound near her right eye. You would be well-advised be cautious around all dogs. Never assume, particularly where children are involved.

Additional information regarding personal injury.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dr. Files Suit Against County Due to Lack of Protection

Susy Owen — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:07:23 GMT

The law protects dog owners' rights as much as it tries to ensure public safety. Accordingly, the county Animal Services Department will not remove your dog just because someone merely thinks the dog is vicious. Dr. Nancy Matthews, a 47-year-old Valley Center equine veterinarian, says she suffered as a result.

In November 2006, Dr. Matthews was with her two sons, 8 and 11-years old when she was mauled by two dogs. These particular dog, boxers, had previously bitten two other people and were on the loose near her house. Due to that fact, she is suing Animal Services, alleging that the department failed to investigate previous bites by the dogs and take steps to protect the public. Imagine your children watching their mother being attacked by two dogs. These boxers were tearing at their mother's scalp, arms, legs and back, which necessitated blood transfusions amoung other forms of treatment. The attack left a multitude of scars on the doctor in addition to indentations on her body where tissue was torn away from her body during the dog attack.

According to the county Animal Services, no mandatory duty was breached by them. As far as they are concerned, the culprit is the owner of the dogs. They claim they have to jump through hoops in trying to restrain dangerous dogs (see original article for full details). According to the county, the best action is self-defense. The best of luck to all of us with that advise.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Fort Worth Bans the Chaining of Dogs

Susy Owen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:58:53 GMT

In 2007, Texas House Bill 1411 was passed making it a misdemeanor to chain a dog overnight, in extreme weather, or for more than three consecutive hours. That is a start. Now, the City Council of Fort Worth has improved on that law and has banned chaining dogs in front and back yards, period.

The cost to anyone violating this law is a $500 fine for the first offense. If that does not get the message through, the law breaker will face a possible stay in jail, which may actually be better conditions that they left their pet in. The fines can go from $500 up to as much as $2,000.

Education is key. Some people just don't get the cruelty aspect of their behavior towards pets and some, the worst kind, just don't care. As Ghandi pointed out "you judge the morality of a country by the way they treat their animals." For people who have pets but lack a conscious, and/or awareness, the law is there to guide them to do the right thing. In a 20-year study done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, it documented that tethering a dog brings out and increases aggressive behavior in animals. Dogs that are chained are almost three times more likely to bite people, according to this study. Cruelty aside, those facts should be reason enough not to chain a dog.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Kurita's Bill Would Toughen Pet Laws

Susy Owen — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:08:33 GMT

Tennessee's State Senator Rosalind Kurita of Clarksville is looking for accountability. And now she will introduce a bill that will provide that accountability for pet owners.

The bill is known as "permissive legislation." In the event of a dog attack the case would go to General Sessions Court. Currently a dog attack case would go before a Circuit Court judge, which would assure a fine of $50 at most. If the bill passes such a case would be sent to General Sessions, where a judge could have the dog destroyed or impose a higher fine.

"I do believe in accountability," Kurita said Wednesday. "We can not have dogs hurting people in Montgomery County." At David Selby, animal control director for Montgomery County put it "All we can do is cite the person for a dog at-large," Selby said of current laws. "It's a joke." He backs the senator on this one. Selby added "There are certain breeds ... you're looking at 2,000 pounds of bite pressure." I think we should all be taking this type of threat seriously. Keeping the public safe is paramount, and enforcing strict vigorous laws is the only way to make some pet owners take responsibility.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Bite Prevention Week

Susy Owen — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:31:32 GMT

Every parent has concerns about dog bites, whether you own a pet or not. People often unintentionally provoke an animal to bite. So, it is not surprising that children under the age of 10 years old are the most common victims of dog bites.

A study published by the American Veterinary Medical Journal found that "boys aged 5 to 9 years have the highest incidence rate of dog bites and that children seen in emergency departments were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck and head." How can we protect children from what is, according to emergency room statistics, an epidemic of dog bites?

Awareness is key. It is a good idea to check you local community listings for canine conduct classes. It would be time well spent and can be immensely beneficial. Additionally, the third week in May is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are groups that are all working to promote canine awareness. Contact any or all of these groups for additional information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Criminal Charges Loom for Dog Owner

Susy Owen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:38:46 GMT

After 7-year-old Ethan Westergard, was attacked by a pit bull mix, the owner told conflicting stories to authorities as to the dogs whereabouts. As a result, she now faces criminal charges. This case has also exposed shortcomings in the way animals are supposed to be quarantined for the purposes of rabies testing.

Initally the owner said the dog was dead and buried. However, when authorities asked her to produce the body she could not. Then she claimed that the dog escaped. The authorities want to make sure to apprehend this dog as this is the second attack by the pit bull mix in the past 6 months.

"The aggressive dog charge is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. The interference charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000." Hopefully, nobody else is victimized by this dog before it is apprehended.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Bites Can Happen Anywhere at Anytime.

Susy Owen — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 12:37:59 GMT

Michael Stuart, 52, of Aberdeen, Scotland, was helping a hospitalized friend out by watching his dog, an Alsatian a.k.a. German Shepard. He took the friend's dog out for a walk when a passer-by a man walked by Stuart and the dog at a brisk pace. What happened next was most unfortunate; the dog took flight as the victim walked by and bit him in the groin, of all places.

As a result of the attack, the victim needed eight stitches. The bite caused a two-and-a-half inch cut to the victim's testicle. He was treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The dog's care taker admitted being responsible for a dog that was out of control in a public place. As a result of the dog attack, he was find 250 British pounds (USD $506.17)

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Insurance Companies Fear Dog Attacks

Susy Owen — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:31:47 GMT

Do you own a dog breed that has a high incidence of being dangerous and/or biting? If you do, you may be blacklisted by your insurance company. It seems that insurance companies are making coverage decisions based on the type of dog you have on your property.

Some of the dogs listed by various insurance companies are German Shephards, Dobermans, Akitas, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers. Based on the records, they fear there will have a high incidents of dog attacks involving these particular breeds.

Dawn Howard, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, said she never would have believed such a thing until her insurance company, Allstate, increased her premium solely because, as her agent said, "You own a breed with high incidence of being dangerous and biting."

Although it goes without saying that not everybody is happy with the blacklisting, according to the Insurance Institute, in 2005, dog bites cost insurers $317.2 million. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they have to weigh risks with being reasonable to their customers. It would stretch the imagination to consider $317.2 a reasonable cost.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Bites Police Officer

Susy Owen — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:25:41 GMT

While on duty in the early hours of January 1, 2008, Officer Jada Burgin was bitten by the dog. The dog bite occured due to the fact that the dog's owner failed to control his dog at the time of the incident.

The officer was responding to a call pertaining to James Powell and his sister Jamie Powell. It had been reported that they were yelling at each other. When the police arrived on the scene, they heard Mr. Powell yelling at his dogs. It was around that time that one of the two dogs bit the officer. At this time, a search is being conducted for the two dogs belonging to Mr. Powell. The dogs were either let out, or they escaped.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen

Dog Owners to Face Tougher Rules In Switzerland

Susy Owen — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:30:25 GMT

So how is Switzerland handling the dog bite issue? Well, to begin with they want people to be responsible for any damages their dog(s) do to others. Under a draft law, dog owners would also have to take out mandatory insurance. Great idea.

Switzerland is currently dealing with approximately 300 dog attacks on people by dogs each and every year. The justice ministry would like to ensure that victims receive financial compensation from the dog owner if they are attacked. Under the current law, dog owners are not responsible for any damage their dog may do if they can show the dog was "kept" correctly, which doesn't make much sense. Why should a victim be stuck with the cost of a dog attack. He/she would really be getting the short end of the stick, so to speak, not once but twice. "The draft legislation comes amid debate over dangerous dogs in the wake of a deadly incident in Zurich two years ago, when three pit bulls killed a boy."

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Premises Liability.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Susy Owen