« Why Do Dogs Attack? | Main
By Michael Morse | August 13, 2012
The first ever walk for victims of pit bulls and other dangerous dogs is forming and is drawing participants from around the United States and Canada.
For more information, visit: http://walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com/
Topics: Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer | No Comments »
Comments are closed.
I have been working as a Lawyer at Penney and Associates for years. During those years our Lawyers have handled many dog bite and dog attack cases in California, namely Sacramento, Roseville and Fairfield. One case we handled was a dog attack in Rocklin where a lady was walking her dog and a pit bull was let out of its back yard and ran after the little dog the lady was walking. The pit bull did not bite the lady but instead was more of a dog attack, knocking over the lady and breaking her leg. This is what Lawyers call a dog attack, not a dog bite. However there are many cases that treat a dog attack and dog bite as the same thing.
If you are attacked by a big dog like a Pit Bull or Rottweiler, try to protect your throat as that is where you are very venerable during a dog attack. There are many county and city ordinances like those in Fairfield, Roseville and Sacramento that say a dog must be on a leash when in the public or must be properly contained so as to prevent dog bites and dog attacks. In fact if a dog bites you there is no first bite rule in California. Whether the dog bite or attack occurs in Roseville, Sacramento or Fairfield, it is the same, if a dog bites or attacks for the first time the owner is strictly liable.
California Civil Code section 3342 discusses dog bite and dog attacks. This applies to all cities in California including Roseville, Sacramento or Fairfield. In sum the law states that the owner of any dog is liable for injuries sustained to a person who is bitten by a dog in a public place or even when the dog is lawfully in a private place, including the property owners own home, regardless of the prior viciousness of the dog. Thus, a dog bite or dog attack holds the owner strictly liable. There are exceptions such as a military or police dog that is defending itself or in the line of duty. Note, what the line of duty entails is another discussion.
Now, if the owner of a dog knows that his or her dog has bitten or attacked before then the owner has a duty to take reasonable steps to make sure their dog does not bite or attack anyone again. Again, the owner has to prevent dog bites or dog attacks especially in California or cities such as Roseville, Sacramento or Fairfield.
If an owners dog has attacked or bitten a person on at least two occasions that dog can be deemed dangerous as it is known as a dog that bites or attacks. The district attorney may determine what to do with the dangerous dog if it has had problems with dog attacks or dog bites. It does not matter if it is a German Sheppard, Rotweiler, pit bull.
Penney and Associates has handled many dog bite and dog attacks including young children and adults. The Lawyers at Penney and Associates are experienced in many type of animal attacks, including cattle or cows out on the roadway causing auto accidents. If you or your child has been bitten by a dog or attacked by a dog call Penney and Associates in Sacramento, Roseville, Fairfield, Chico, Santa Clara, Newport Beach, and Rocklin. Penney and Associates will handle dog bite and dog attack cases throughout California.
Fred Penney is the managing attorney of Penney and Associates. Penney and associates is a personal injury law firm located throughout California; Chico, Roseville, Loomis, Rocklin, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Fairfield, Newport Beach. Penney and Associates (not Penny and Associates) handles Dog Bites, Dog Attacks, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, uninsured motorist accidents, wrongful death accidents, electrocution accidents, ATV accidents and all other serious injury cases.
If you’re being threatened by a dog, the standard advice from various national kennel clubs is to avoid eye contact, remain still, with your arms crossed over your chest or hands in your pockets and hope for the best, which is fine if the dog doesn’t attack you, but not so clever if it bites your groin, face or throat. The problem with advice like this is that it assumes that a dog is unlikely to attack a human, which is complete bullshit. Most recorded dog attacks on humans were unprovoked. The reason for the massive increase is that more people are buying dogs for protection and either can’t control them or are using them as weapons.Â
If you were attacked by a Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier, you would kick into the middle of next week. So when we’re talking about dog attacks, we’re talking about defences against a dog like an American Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Tosa, Presa Canario, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Mastino Napoletan, Cane Corso, English Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Dobermann Pinscher, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Anatolian Shepherd, German Shepherd or Dutch Shepherd — a dog who could maim or kill an adult, and might even be a trained attack dog deliberately set on you. Â
Most dog attacks don’t result in the victim being horrifically scared, maimed or killed, so unarmed defence against a dog is possible but some breeds are easier to deal with than others because of their size but having said that all the above dogs are potentionally lethal, and especially dangerous if they’re trained attack dogs. The best defence is to shoot it before it attacks you and if someone threatens you with a dog, shoot it dead before he gets the chance to let it off the leash. The next best thing to a gun is a decent dog.
But when I’m unarmed and threatened by a dog, I don’t stand square on, offering up my balls, throat and face: I stand side on, my left side facing the dog, so my thigh is protecting my Jacobs. I hold my left fist down by my left hip, and my right fist against my left cheek cover my face and throat with my head on my shoulder.
The dog will get hold of my left arm, but better my arm than my bollocks, face or throat, and when he’s got my arm his mouth’s busy. I’ll let him pull me to the ground because he’ll keep ripping chunks out of me until he does and he’ll do less damage to my arm if I don’t struggle but when I go to ground, I’ll wrap my right arm around his body — not his neck or he’ll attack my right arm — then I’ll drive my chest into him and pin him to the floor (cross body pin), keeping my arm in his mouth and hold him down with my chest. I’ll carefully slip my right arm behind it’s neck and strangle it. I’ve only ever done this with Kevlar forearm guards, so the pain on the forearm wasn’t all that. Â
I’ve never fought against more than one dog at one time so I can’t really offer much advice, but I don’t think there is much you can do if you’re unarmed. All I can suggest (and this ain’t great) is to roll up into a tight ball with your fist on your ears, so the dog can only bite the back of your head, neck, arms, legs and back. But you’ve got to stop yourself from getting turned over, which won’t be easy, I’m very confident that my two dogs could turn over anyone.
Dog bites and attacks are prevalent throughout California. There are many agencies that keep track of certain dog bite statistics. Many dog shelters, government agencies and animal control agencies are found in cities such as Sacramento, Roseville, Fairfield and Rocklin.
For example the Department of Animal Care and Regulations in Sacramento (a division of Sacramento County Municipal Services Agency) notes the following dog bite and dog attack statistics in California and in the United States. Sacramento County obtained much of its information from American Humane organization. The United States is as follows:
1. There are almost 5 million dog bite and dog attacks each year.
2. Most dog bite and dog attack victims are children
3. 5-9 year old boys are the most likely dog bite and dog attack victims
4. 77 % of dog bite and dog attack victims are bitten on the face
5. Any dog may bite, it is not breed specific. It is not just Pit Bulls that bite.
6. 61% of dog bites and dog attacks happen at home or a familiar place.
7. 77% of dog bites and dog attacks happen at friend or family homes.
8. 8 out of 10 of the biting dogs are males.
9. Un-neutered dogs are almost 3 times more likely to bite or attack than a neutered dog.
10. Tethering or chaining dogs can increase their aggression and likelihood to be involved in a dog bite or dog attack.
There are a few things you can do to avoid dog bites or dog attacks in
Sacramento, Roseville or Fairfield or what ever city you live in California, according to the Sacramento Department of Animal Care and Regulations.
First you need to be able to tell when a dog is about to bite or attack. The dog will do the following prior to a dog bite or dog attack.
1. Stick their ears straight up.
2. Make the fur on their backs puff up.
3. Their tail will stick up.
4. They will growl or bark
5. They will show their teeth.
6. The dog will stare at whomever they are ready to attack or bite.
Second, there are a few things to not do to a dog to prevent a dog bite or dog
attack.
1. Don’t look an angry or attacking dog straight in the eye.
2. Don’t sneak up on a dog, he might turn and attack and bite.
3. Be careful around a mother dog and her puppies. Many times the dog bites or dog attacks occur when a mother dog is protecting her puppies.
4. Don’t pet a stray dog, they may bite or attack.
5. Always ask a dog owner for permission before petting their dog. The owner might just say no, this dog is known for dog bites and dog attacks.
6. Socialize your dog, make sure it knows how to interact with people so they will be less likely to bite or attack.
7. Vaccinate your dog so if the dog does attack or bite, it does not have rabies.
Placer County has some statistics from Animal Services. This gives one a
good idea what it would be like in Fairfield or Sacramento area. Of course Roseville is in Placer County so some of the statistics apply. The Placer County Statistics are for 2006.
1. Number of barking dog problems (could turn into dog bite or dog attack) = 65
2. Number of dog bites in Placer County = 37 (note this did not break it down by Auburn, Roseville, Loomis, Rocklin, Lincoln).
3. Aggressive dogs, not necessarily dog bite or dog attack = 50
4. Other general complaints which could include dog bite or dog attacks = 445
5. Animals confiscated or Euthanized per request = 14
Though the statistics don’t talk specifically about dog bite and dog attacks in
Sacramento, Roseville, Fairfield, or Rocklin, it does give one a good idea what would be a general overall view of issues lawyers deal with when it comes to dog bites and dog attacks. Lawyers have to know the law and if they need an expert when taking a dog bite or dog attack case to trial. Usually lawyers just look at the city ordinance or leash law to see if the law favors a strict liability case that a lawyer can “hang their hat†on.
I hope that these animal statistics and dog bite and dog attack prevention rules will be taken into consideration to hopefully decrease the amount of dog bites and dog attacks in Sacramento, Roseville and Fairfield.
If you or your child has suffered an animal bite or attack, contact our West Central Florida, law firm today. We handle all animal accident and personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. That means, we do not take any payment for attorney’s fees or costs until we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.
Most municipalities in Florida have leash laws, requiring owners to keep their animals out of the public at large. A dog is presumed to be domesticated unless it is proven otherwise. If a dog is not locked up, however, and it attacks or bites someone, the owner becomes strictly liable for any injury the dog causes. Chows, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and Akitas can all be extremely dangerous animals and cause severe and lasting injury, scarring, disfigurement, and even death.
We work with our own private investigators, perform in-depth investigations, carefully research applicable law, and exhaust every opportunity for advocacy in pursuit of a fair outcome for our clients. If it is not possible to reach a settlement on your behalf, we will aggressively advocate in litigation. We are committed to providing our clients with the compassionate care, attention, and service they deserve for their comprehensive recovery needs. At the same time, we advocate aggressively on their behalf.
If you or your loved one has been injured in an animal attack, contact Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., at (888) 392-LAWS (5297). Our on-call staff is available 24 hours a day for an immediate telephone consultation.
« National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 16–22 | Main | Why Do Dogs Attack? »
By Michael Morse | June 3, 2010
Every year more than 4.7 million Americans suffer injury from a dog bite or dog attack, and approximately 800,000 require medical attention. A serious dog bite attack can leave a person with devastating, life-changing injuries. A person who has suffered severe dog bite injuries may need plastic surgery to restore appearance and reduce scarring.
Dog bite injuries are the third leading cause of emergency admission of children to hospitals.
The elderly have a higher rate of dog attacks, as do service workers such as mail carriers, other delivery persons, meter readers, home health aides, and others who make house calls, and are therefore more exposed to dogs.
Here are some common questions and answers about dog attacks:
Are some dog breeds’ bites more dangerous? More than half of all serious dog attacks in the United States involve pit bulls or Rottweilers.
How can I reduce my risk of a dog attack? Do not approach dogs you don’t know well, or those unaccompanied by an owner. Do not provoke or tease any dog, whether you know it well or not.
Are there psychological effects from dog attacks? The emotional trauma resulting from being attacked by a dog can be devastating. The anxiety and fear that may continue long after the attack is a central component in many dog bite cases.
Who is responsible when a dog attacks and injures a person? Under Michigan law, dog owners are liable when their dog bites someone without being provoked, period. This law does not apply to a person who is bitten while trespassing.
Do homeowners and renters insurance cover dog attacks? Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury from a dog attack, contact us today for a free consultation. We will help seek compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering caused by the attack.

Topics: Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer | No Comments »
Comments are closed.
CLEARFIELD, Utah — A young girl from South Ogden was injured after she was attacked by a dog while visiting Clearfield Sunday.
Police responded to the area near 2200 South 300 West Sunday on reports a 5-year-old girl had been attacked by a husky at about 8:20 a.m., according to the Clearfield Police Department.
Authorities said the girl’s uncle heard her screaming, and he came outside to see the dog pulling the girl over a fence, which is about 3 feet tall. The dog, a 3-year-old husky, had the girl by the throat, and the girl’s uncle said the dog was shaking and dragging the girl around the yard. The uncle immediately jumped into the neighbor’s yard to rescue the girl, at which time the dog released the girl and retreated.
Curtis Thomas lives in the neighborhood, and he said he ran outside when he heard the screams.
“It was a real bad cut, right on the neck,†he said of the girl’s injuries. “It made me terrified. All I could think of was it could have been one of my kids.â€
The girl was taken to Davis Hospital, where she was then airlifted to Primary Children’s Medical Center. She was initially listed in critical condition, but is expected to make a full recovery.
Davis County Animal Care and Control took custody of the dog shortly after the attack. Executive Director Clinton Thacker said the animal was later euthanized, per the request of the owner.
“This was very, very extreme, and our hearts go out to the family who had this happen,†Thacker said. “To go this far, is very, very not characteristic of any dog to go that far.â€
While Thacker concedes the nature of Huskies is to be slightly more territorial, the behavior is highly unusual and should serve as a reminder to the public.
“Any dog will bite, at any given time,†Thacker said. “We tell children and adults, ‘Do not touch animals that you do not know about.’â€
The dog will be tested for rabies, as part of protocol, but Thacker believes it’s unlikely the animal carried the virus.
5-year-old attacked by dog, Clearfield, critical condition, dog attack, dog bites girl’s throat, husky, husky attacks young girl, ogden
