Incidence of Dog Bite Injuries May Increase During Holidays

800px-Ellsworth_dog_biteThe holidays are supposed to be a happy time for families and friends. The enjoyment can quickly turn to tragedy if a dog bites someone. Dog bites happen quite often and can cause serious injuries. Dog bites may happen more frequently around the holidays because of the increased number of visitors to one’s home during this time period. Dog owners must be vigilant in making sure that their dogs are kept from harming anyone.

Owners Must Control Their Dogs

Dog owners must keep their dogs under control at all times. Dog bite injuries most often occur when an animal is off-leash or is not being properly supervised. Dogs need to be on leash at all times when they are in public areas. The only exception to this rule may be when dogs and owners visit specified dog parks. These parks allow dogs to run off leash in a controlled environment. Owners are subject to the rules of the specific dog park.

Preventing Dog Bite Injuries

Dog owners should take steps to prevent the possibility of their dog biting anyone. Remember, dogs are animals, and even the gentlest, best trained dogs could bite someone.

  • Keep your dog away from guests
  • Remove dog food while visitors are present
  • Do not allow people to feed your dog snacks
  • When walking your dog, keep it on a short leash
  • Do not allow your dog around other dogs unsupervised
  • Train your dog to obey commands

If you are hosting a party at your home, it can be difficult to keep your eye on your pet. For this reason, you should make arrangements to keep the dog in another room, in his cage, or at a dog care facility during the gathering.

Dog Bite Injuries and Treatment

Dog bites can be difficult to treat. The dog’s teeth are designed for tearing apart raw meat and bones, and a dog’s jaws are very strong. For these reasons, injuries from dog bites can be difficult to treat. There are often deep wounds that can easily become infected. If the dog is not protected with a rabies shot, the victim will need to receive a series of rabies shots, which are painful. Some dog bites require surgical treatment. These types of wounds may take weeks or months to heal, and often leave the victim with lifelong scars.

Taking Responsibility for Dog Bite Injuries

According to California law, dog owners are liable for any damages suffered by someone who was bitten by their dog in a public or private place. This is true regardless of the owner being aware of any previous vicious behavior of the animal. The law applies to people who are on the owner’s property lawfully. A victim of a dog bite injury may make a legal claim against the dog’s owner seeking compensation for injuries and damages.

If you or a loved one were the victim of a serious dog bite injury, you may need to take legal action. Contact the experienced legal team at Brod Law Firm to discuss your case. Call us at 800-427-7020 to schedule a free consultation.

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