How to Prevent Dog Attacks

How can you prevent a dog attack?

It is not always possible, but there are steps you can take to make yourself safer and to minimize the likelihood that you will be a victim. The American Veterinary Medical Association sponsors Dog Bite Prevention Week in May, and offers several tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe from animal bites.

• Be a responsible dog owner. If you are like the millions of Americans who own dogs, you cannot imagine your pet biting someone. However, almost every dog that bites is someone’s pet. Any dog can bite under the right circumstances, so it is extremely important that you minimize the chances of your dog biting by taking the proper precautions to prevent this problem. Preventing dog bites begins with owner responsibility. Train your dog from the first day you bring it home and engage the services of professional trainers to help you ensure that dangerous behavior is minimized. If you notice any erratic or aggressive behavior on your dog’s part, take it to the vet immediately to see if illness might be the issue. Many dogs bite because they are hurt or sick. Finally, never play aggressively with your dog, and give it proper socialization with people and other dogs early to minimize fearful aggression.
• Educate your children. At least 60 percent of dog bite victims are children, and approximately 70% of dog bite wounds are inflicted on a child’s face. Children naturally migrate toward dogs and want to pet them, but this can have tragic consequences. Teach your children to never approach a dog in a sudden manner; dogs can interpret this as aggression, especially if the children are laughing and shouting. Children should be taught to ask owners for permission before petting dogs; owners who prepare their dogs by asking them to sit and give them “permission” to sniff a child are far less likely to snap or bite than dogs that are thrust into an unwelcome contact with a child. Adults should also never leave a dog alone with a child, particularly if the dog has limited experience with that child.
• Be aware of dogs in your surroundings. The vast majority of dogs are no danger to people or other animals. However, if you notice a dog in your neighborhood that barks incessantly or is overtly aggressive, be aware. Stay away from such animals and teach your children to do so as well.

If, in spite of your precautions, you or a loved one suffers a dog attack, a dog bite lawyer can help you understand your rights and can help you determine the best way to collect damages for your injuries.

Once you have treated your physical state, addressing your mental health is also important. It is not uncommon for the mental trauma of a dog bite to be worse than the physical injury. Many people, especially children, suffer from nightmares, panic attacks, and other symptoms of extreme stress for many months after a dog bite attack. Psychological counseling and treatment may be necessary to regain your former quality of life or to control panic attacks and other physical manifestations of your fear.

1. Seek immediate medical treatment. Never ignore a dog bite even if it was “minor.” Even if you think your injury is not that serious, dog bites can transmit diseases, and often require immediate medical attention to treat the wound area and flush out harmful germs. For more serious injuries, failing to receive prompt medical attention will most likely hurt your case, since insurance companies may refuse to believe that your injury was serious.
2. Notify the authorities. If you have been bitten, notifying the police or local animal control agency is essential. An investigation by these agencies may prove crucial to building up your case against the dog owner.
3. Take pictures and document everything.This is extremely important, since the value of a dog bite injury is heavily dependent on the appearance of the initial injury, along with the appearance of subsequent disfigurement or scarring that may develop over time. Also, taking notes about the incident while it is still fresh in your mind is advisable, since your potential claim may take a long time to resolve. In addition, it is advisable that you keep a file to store photographs, medical records, insurance company correspondence, and any other documents related to the incident.
4. Do not give recorded statements or sign insurance company forms. Keep in mind that any statements or forms requested by the dog owner’s insurance company are meant to protect the carrier’s interests. Any omissions or mistakes on your part will definitely be used against you if you file a lawsuit.
5. Hire an experienced dog bite attorney. If your injuries are serious, it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer to help you resolve the claim. Between medical bills, pain and suffering, and increased living expenses, you may be eligible to recover damages that only an experienced lawyer who handles dog bite cases can help you with. A professional personal injury attorney can usually obtain much more compensation than an unrepresented dog bite victim can collect on his/her own.