Don't Be A Dog Bite Victim

By Author: Tom B
Total Articles: 7
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Dogs Are Fantastic Pets

Dogs bring companionship and a great deal of joy to a lot of people, but not all have the same temperament. If a dog does not belong to you or you are not it's handler then you need to be respectful of the dog and the wishes of it's handler or owner.

There are currently about 75 million dogs in the U.S.A. About 4.7 million dog bites are reported annually. That means that about 6.5% of the dog population will bite a person seriously enough to be reported. Out of those 4.7 million reported bites, about 800,000 or one out of six is severe enough to require medical attention. That means that, each year 1% of dogs will bite somebody seriously enough for them to require medical attention. And those figures are assuming that each dog bite comes from a dog who has never bitten before. Most dogs are well behaved and aren't overly aggressive, but people still need to be educated on how to interact with dogs so they stay safe around them and prevent being injured by a dog bite. Most bites are not the result of vicious and aggressive dogs, but instead are the result of people who are not aware of the ...
... boundaries of these animals. Dogs will bite when they feel threatened or scared and they will bite in self-defense.

Dog Bites Are Easily Preventable

Most dog bites don't need to happen in the first place. Knowing the boundaries of dogs and what makes them feel scared is the best way to prevent them. You should never pet a dog when it is eating or when it is sleeping. Dogs are animals and their first concern is self-preservation. A dog is most vulnerable when sleeping, so if it is startled it's instinct is to bite. This is a reactionary bite that a dog can not control and doesn't even know is happening. Another step to avoid being bitten is to refrain from putting your hands above the head of a dog, especially if you are not familiar with the dog. A dog's neck is a place they consider vulnerable and they will instinctively try to protect it. Putting your hand over a dog's head can very easily be seen by the dog as threatening. Another thing that a dog may see as a threat or challenge is direct eye contact. With dogs that you are not familiar with it is best to avoid direct eye contact as the dog may take it as a threat. When you encounter a dog that is not yours you should always ask the owner or handler if it is okay to interact with the animal and respect whatever they tell you, whether that be a flat out "no" or if they ask you to approach the dog in a certain way, you should listen. They know the dog's temperament better than you and it is up to them to decide if they will allow you to interact with their animal. Even smaller dogs can do damage with a bite as there are many forms of bacteria in the mouth of a canine.

Dog Owners Must Be Responsible

In most states a dog's owner is liable if the animal bites. It doesn't matter if the dog has no history of biting or how well it is generally behaved. Dog law usually requires that the owner provide monetary compensation to the victim of a dog bite for medical bills and could require that the dog be quarantined or even put down.

What To Do If You Are a Dog Bite Victim

If you are a dog bite victim you will want to identify the dog who bit you and identify the owner. You will want to know if the dog is up-to-date on all it's shots. If the dog isn't, or you were bitten by a dog you can't identify you may want to get a rabies shot although rabies in dogs is not much of a concern now-a-days. If a dog bite is serious enough, or if you can't identify the owner of the dog to find out if it is up-to-date on shots then you will want to go see a doctor. About 1,000 Americans go to the emergency room for dog bites every day. If the bite was to the face or you are concerned with disfigurement then you may want to see a plastic surgeon, because emergency rooms are not always concerned with disfigurement. If the bite doesn't require you to go to the hospital then be certain that you wash the bite with soap at the very least. Hydrogen peroxide is preferable because dogs have a lot of bacteria in their mouths and you don't want to catch an infection. Due to this you shouldn't stitch a dog bite because you may be trapping bacteria underneath your skin. Just bandage the bite and allow it to heal on its own. Lastly you should contact a personal injury attorney or an experienced dog bite lawyer. An attorney will help to protect your rights and to make sure you receive the monetary settlement that you are entitled to.

What Not To Do If Bitten By a Dog

There are a few things that you should not do in the event of a dog bite. You should not discuss any financial issues connected to the dog bite until you have talked with a personal injury attorney. You should not allow recorded statements or permit others to photograph you. You can however photograph the bite for your own personal records, but you should not allow others to do so. Finally you should not discuss the incident with anybody until you have first spoken with a personal injury attorney or a dog bite lawyer.