What is the main motivation when a dog bites? Normally dogs do not bite, not by nature. There are some circumstances that can be avoided and watched for to prevent a dog bite from ever happening. Dogs are known as Mans best friend and I will always believe that to be true if they are loved and trained properly.
There are a lot of dog bites every year, more than 4.7 million. There is actually a National Dog Bite Prevention Week every year to help educate the public on dog bites and how to protect you. Half of that number are children age 12 and under. Others are the elderly and mail carriers.
When you purchase a dog for your family, consider the breed. There are some breeds that are more prone to bite if provoked, and some just don't do well with children. If your child shows some hesitation about getting a dog, then wait until he is ready. Dogs need a lot attention, they want love and they want to feel secure in their environment. If a child is insecure, the dog will sense it and there will be more stress for both, the child and dog.
When playing with your dog, don't play games that are aggressive, teach your dog how to play gently. Teach your dog to be submissive, and spay or neuter your dog (this at times will reduce aggressive behavior).
When your dog is out, keep him in a fenced yard or on a leash. Never let your dog run loose, no matter how safe you think he may be. Keep your dog vaccinated against rabies. Train your dog the basic commands like sit, stay, heel, come, and down.
The most common bites are to children. There are some things you can teach your child about safety around dogs. I will list a few here:
1. Do not approach a dog you don't know
2. If you are near a dog and afraid, don't run and scream
3. Be still if a dog approaches you, don't move, be a statue
4. If a dog comes at you, roll into a ball and be very still
5. Do not wake a dog that is sleeping, eating or has puppies (it may be tempting to go see the puppies, the mama dog is very protective)
6. Allow a dog to sniff you before you try to pet it, hold your hand out, palm up like you are handing the dog something.
7. Do not look a dog right into their eyes if they don't know you
8. If bitten, tell a grownup right away
Education is the key before the dog bites. Let's prevent it before it ever happens. Go over these tips with your child on a regular basis. They may forget and it helps just as a reminder. Then if the time ever does come, they won't even have to think about it, they will just react the way they were taught.
You can find more great information at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) on how to protect yourself and children from dog bites. Do everything you can to prevent dog bites by training your dog to be gentle and not one of the statistics.
Dog bites are very common cause of injuries in not only children but also adults. Dog bites can cause serious consequences from psychological trauma or permanent deformity. And the worst consequence of a dog bite is death.
It is eerie in a way to say that dog bites are a nightmare coming from what is supposed to be a man's best friend.
There is actually a dog bite epidemic in the United States. Dogs bite almost 5 million or 2% of the country's population, annually. Most of the victims are children, often bitten in the face.
From this number, 800,000 are in need of medical attention. Meanwhile, 1,000 each day need to undergo treatment in emergency rooms. Sadly, 15 to 20 die from dog bite injuries and complications, annually.
This number just goes to show that no one is securely protected from sudden dog attacks. However, there are ways to prevent being bitten by a dog. First, remember that there is no such thing as a dog that does not bite.
Pet dogs are still dogs that would most possibly bite. It is better to keep distance and exercise great care when dealing with dogs, your pet or otherwise. Do not be among those who became victims of pet dog attacks.
Experts and medical practitioners have provided many lists of precautionary measures on how to deal with dogs and avoid being bitten.
However, if you still managed to be bitten by a dog, then here is some information regarding your legal rights to recover damages.
1. First is to identify the dog. You must find out if the dog has rabies. Nevertheless, you should get medical attention, immediately and be shot with anti-rabies vaccines.
2. Immediately after the dog bite attack, report the incident to the authorities. They can help in investigating the circumstances of the dog bite. Their report would help in establishing the incident.
3. Avoid getting into an argument with the owner of the dog. Remember that many owners dote on their pets and would not believe anything negative about them. Understand that it may be hard for them to accept that their dog can bite even without severe provocation.
4. Avoid signing in any papers or making statements that can be recorded. You might be persuaded by the dog owner, property owner or insurance company to do these things. Their primary goal is to avoid liabilities for your dog bite injuries. Be sure to consult a personal injury lawyer to assist you even before meeting up with the people mentioned above.
5. Seek the assistance of a reliable and experienced lawyer to help you get back the financial, emotional and psychological effects/losses you suffered because of the incident.
An insurance company might offer you payment but before accepting anything, having a lawyer you can trust to review, the proposed settlement is still advisable. He will also know the legal implications if the dog owner denies liability for your injuries.
Every state has different laws regarding dog bite attacks. It is but important to engage the services of a lawyer with expertise on the dog bite laws in your specific state. It would also help you to check your state's law for information on dog bites, yourself.
Both Joann Henry & Lala C. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.