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Have A Knowledge Of How & How Not To Act Around Dogs To Avoid Injuries


Dog Bites Happen Every Day. Most kids don't think a cuddly dog would ever hurt them, but as a Dallas-fort Worth personal injury attorney, I know that 4.7 million dog bites occur every year in the United States and more than half of kids bitten are under age 14. Dog bites can be much more than an innocent little nip and some require hospitalization or even surgery. Teaching kids a few basic dog manners, though, will let them and dogs enjoy safer encounters.

Other People's Pooches
Any breed of dog might bite. And just because a dog is small or seems friendly doesn't mean it can't do some damage. Even the nicest, most well-trained family dog may snap if it's startled, scared, threatened, agitated, angry, or hungry.

No matter how well you think you know the dog, always supervise your kids around someone else's pet. To reduce the risk of bites, teach kids these safety guidelines:
  • Always ask the owner if it's OK to pet the dog.
  • Let the dog see and sniff you before petting it.
  • Do not run toward or away from a dog.
  • If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, stay calm, don't look it directly in the eye, and stand still or back up slowly.
  • If a dog tries to bite you, put anything you can between you and the dog. If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball, cover your face, and lie still.

Owner's Manual
A lot of the responsibility for preventing dog bites falls on the owner's shoulders. Before getting a dog, talk to a professional to discuss what type of dog or breed is best for your household. Ask questions about the dog's temperament and health. A dog with a history of aggression is not suitable for a household with kids.

If your family has a dog, make sure it gets all required immunizations and regular vet checkups. Also, have it spayed or neutered. Consider taking your dog to obedience school to make it more social and obedient, and thus less likely to bite someone. When you take your dog out in public, always keep it on a leash so you can be in control if its behavior gets out of hand. If you have kids, closely supervise them when they're around the dog and never leave an infant or toddler alone with your pet. Even if you don't own a dog, make sure that your kids understand some "nevers" about being around dogs:
  • Never squeeze dogs too tight, drop them, fall on them, or jump on them.
  • Never tease dogs or pull their tails or ears.
  • Never bother dogs while they're eating, sleeping, or taking care of their puppies.
  • Never take a toy or bone away from a dog or play tug of war with a dog.


What To Do If a Dog Bites Your Child
If your child is bitten by a dog, contact your doctor, particularly if the dog is not yours. The force of a dog's bite can actually result in a fracture. While rare, rabies and other kinds of infections can occur. Try to have the following information available to help the doctor determine the risk of infection and what kind of treatment, if any, your child needs:
  • the name and location of the dog's owners
  • if the dog is up to date on its vaccinations
  • whether the attack was provoked or unprovoked an example of a provoked attack would include approaching a dog while it's eating or while it's taking care of its puppies. Knowing the attack was unprovoked has nothing to do with assigning blame, but it lets the doctor know that the dog could be sick, which might affect treatment decisions.


Other Articles You Might Be Interested In:
What's My Case Worth?
Common Dog Bite and Dog Attack Scenarios
Dog Attacks and Liability Insurance
How To Protect Children From Dog Bites
Better Safe Than Sorry: If You've Been Injured You Should Visit The Doctor



The Anderson Law Firm offers free no obligation consultations to people injured in accidents or who have suffered physical harm as a result of someone else's actions. We do not charge you to initially discuss your situation and establish whether you have a claim to pursue. You can call us and discuss your case over the phone, we can set up an appointment for you to come into our office, or we can visit you in your home anywhere in the metroplex.

If after meeting with us you decide that we are the best personal injury lawyer for you, then we will enter into a contingent fee agreement. This means that we only get paid when we win a settlement or jury verdict in your favor. You don't pay us anything up front. We will cover all expenses spent working on your case. Only when we win for you will you need to pay us. If we don't win, then you owe us nothing.

Contact us online now or call us 24 hours a day toll free on 1-800-354-MARK (1-800-345-6-275). You can also call us locally in Fort Worth on 817-294-1900 or in Dallas on 214-327-8000.


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