Dog Bite Safety Information

A dog attack can not only be physically painful but also emotionally scarring. According to a Rush PR News article there are several ways to prevent a dog attack and how to handle your self if involved in one. “Avoid making eye contact with the dog. Dogs perceive eye contact as a challenge and a threat. Look slightly down or aside of the dog, but keep him in your vision. Avoid smiling at the dog. You may be putting on a friendly face, but an aggressive dog sees you baring your teeth for a fight. Look for warning signs. Most dogs are not aggressive but rather just curious or defending what they perceive as their territory. It is important to be able to tell if a dog is just playing or is being truly aggressive. If the dog approaches you with its head held high or low, it is probably not going to attack. A dog whose head is level means business.” There are many more tips on how to prevent a dog attack and what to do after involved in one in the article.

            As a dog bite attorney lawyer covering Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, Howell, Jackson, Paterson and all of central and northern New Jersey and know how physically painful and emotionally traumatizing a dog bite can be. The article cited above provides a lot of good information on how to handle dog bite attacks and how to care for the injury afterwards. Some important statistics cited are “In the US alone, nearly 5 million people are attacked by dogs per year, and 1,000 people go to emergency rooms per day as a result of a dog attack; many of them are children, and about half of them have been bitten in the face.” Dog attacks are a serious problem throughout the country and New Jersey is no different. I suggest reading the article several times so you can be well informed on what to do if a situation arises. I hope this information can be useful to your family and friends in helping to prevent dog bite attacks.

Some States Legislating "Bite and Run"

Michigan is looking to pass a law that would make it a misdemeanor for a pet owner to flee the scene of a biting incident, punishable by a $500 fine and possible jail time. It's not a bad idea for New Jerseyans, either. There are numerous incidents involving dog bites where the victim is unable to identify or locate the owner of the dog resulting in a total lack of recourse. As a practical matter, the owner's presence at the scene of a dog bite may help the victim when he or she seeks treatment, because the owner will be able to attest to the dog's health and vaccination records. For more information about the Michigan law, click here.

Why Dogs Bite

Good information for the general public, setting forth the possible reasons why dogs bite. Click here to read more.

Dog Bite Prevention

The Humane Society's website is a terrific resource for everything you need to know about dog bites, from preventing attacks, to avoiding attacks and how to protect yourself and your family and your dog. Take some time review the site if you are a dog owner or if there are dogs or other animals living in your neighborhood.