Dog Bites: Lies You Hear Before Getting Bitten By A Dog

Article Title: Dog Bites: Lies You Hear Before Getting Bitten
By A Dog
Author: T. Peterson

As an injury attorney who has handled many dog bite claims in
Oregon and Washington State, I have heard a lot of stories that
would be funny if they were not so tragic. On several occasions,
dog bite victims have told me that the owner has said, "Don't
worry, the dog won't bite" right before they got bitten. On one
occasion, the owner went so far as to coax the victim into
petting the dog to "prove that this kind of dog is gentle."
Unfortunately, dogs are just doing what they think they are
supposed to do, which is protecting their owners. Also
unfortunately, dog owners do not know what is going on in their
pets' heads, and even if the dog has never bitten anyone, this
does not mean they won't suddenly bite. Owners are often even in
denial that their dog is a biter even after it has demonstrated
aggressive behavior such as nipping, barking and chasing or even
biting. Their dog gives them unconditional love and they want to
return the favor. Like parents of young children they can't
believe THEIR dog would ever do anything to hurt anyone. If you
watch the show Animal Cops on the Discovery Channel you can
sometimes see owners in court denying their dog has done
anything wrong even after a vicious attack that landed someone
in a hospital.

Dog Bites are Becoming More of a Problem

Dog bites have a documented 37% increase in medically treated
cases between 1986 and 1994. This is the case even though the
dog population has risen by less than 2%. Such data indicates
that dog bites are becoming more prevalent. In fact, dog bites
are an increasing serious problem in the U.S.

Dog bites are the most frequent type of animal attack. They are
a common reason for a trip to the emergency room, and are a
common form of injury for both children and adults, although the
number of recorded dog bites is greater in children.
Statistically, one in two hundred twenty-two people are affected
by dog bites, as opposed to one in every eighty-three children
between five and nine. Dog bites are the second most common
cause of injury in young children, topping the number of
injuries incurred on the playground. Dog bites most frequently
occur when the animal is provoked, regardless of whether it's
purposeful or not. This can happen, for instance, when people
are playing with dogs or when dogs are scared for some reason.

Dog Bite Injuries and Children

In addition to causing soft-tissue injuries, often to the face,
dog bites are frightening and traumatic experiences that
frequently have long-lasting effects for those involved. They
are considered contaminated wounds, and therefore require
surgical intervention, if it's necessary, as soon as possible
after the incident. Although dog bites are indeed an increasing
problem, they are largely preventable. It's very important that
children and their parents learn how to lower their risk of
being dog bite victims. The matter of dog bites should be
discussed with the child's physician during routine checkups.

Conclusion

So next time you or your child considers petting a strange dog,
think twice, even if the owner encourages you to do so.

About The Author: Visit my site
http://www.injurylaworegon.com/dog_bites.htm to find out how a
Dog Bite Lawyer can protect your rights if you were bitten by a
dog in Oregon or Washington State.

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