New Jersey Accident and Injury Law Blog : New Jersey Injury Lawyer & Attorney : The Grossman Law Firm : Serving Monmouth County, Bergen County

A serious dog bite incident in Georgia this week critically injured an eight-year-old girl. The attack has also led to louder calls for breed specific legislation  in the state.

Earlier this week, eight-year-old Erin Ingraham was playing in the yard at her Atlanta home when she was attacked by two Staffordshire Terrier dogs. Animal control officers were able to get the dogs off the little girl. One of the dogs was shot and killed in the scuffle, while another has been caught, and is likely to be euthanized. 

The attack was vicious, and Erin suffered serious injuries. She continues to remain in intensive care, and has undergone several surgeries since the attack. Obviously, Erin is looking at a long, traumatizing and painful recuperation. My prayers are with the little girl, and I hope that she makes a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, the viciousness of the attacks have spurred calls for stronger dog bite legislation in Georgia. Georgia‘s dog bite laws don't allow for strict liability in a dog bite case. That means that when a bite incident occurs in Georgia, the dog must have been involved in a previous attack for the owner to be held liable. In comparison under New Jersey's strict liability laws, an owner can be held liable for the injuries caused by his dog even if it was the very first dog bite incident involving the animal.

In Georgia, the attack on Erin has led to at least one legislator calling for a ban on violent animals, or at least some kind of restrictions on violent breeds.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The University of Alabama in Birmingham is conducting a study to determine the effectiveness of a software training program in teaching children about safe interaction with dogs.

The study will involve giving the children a software program called the Blue Dog, developed by the Blue Dog Trust in the United Kingdom. The program features a series of instructions for little children to be safe around dogs and avoid possibly antagonizing behaviors around these animals. The children will then be tested with a live dog to study how much they have absorbed the instructions given in the program. If it is found that the children have learned a lot about safe interactions around dogs from the Blue Dog program, then it could help in preventing at least some of the thousands of dog attacks involving children every year. 

Many dog attacks involve children who unwittingly provoke the animal by pulling the animal’s ears, or teasing it. Children are the most frequent victims of dog bites in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year there are more than 4.5 million dog bite incidents occurring in the country. Of these, an overwhelming majority involve little children between the age of five and nine. Children of this age group are not only more likely to be involved in the bite incidents, but are also more likely to need medical attention for their injuries. Teaching children to be safe around dogs is a big part of preventing these attacks.

Scott Grossman is a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey representing injured victims of dog bites around the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Normally, an attack involving an orca would not find a place on this blog, but as a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey who frequently comes across serious and even fatal attacks involving man's best friend, I have to express my surprise that anyone thought an attack like this was completely impossible.

Tilikum, the 12,000 pound, 22-foot killer whale is just about everywhere on the news. This week, the orca pulled its trainer Dawn Brancheau into its tank, and thrashed her violently from side to side. The trainer died of traumatic injuries. This wasn't the orca’s first brush with death. He has been named in at least two previous fatalities. In the first one, he was among a group of three whales which attacked a trainer who fell into the pool at a park in British Columbia. In the second incident, Tilikum was linked to the death of a 27-year-old man who is believed to have sneaked into the orca tank. The man was found dead on the whale’s back the next day.

That anyone is stunned at this attack is a matter of surprise to me. Whether you're talking about killer whales, or a chimpanzee, or your pet dog, you're dealing with animals, and animals are unpredictable. Tilikum was one of the largest killer whales in captivity, and has lived in captivity since he was two years old. That makes it all his life in training. That didn’t stop the orca from killing its trainer. It's insane to blame the whale here. It is also important to understand that when you are in proximity to animals, there is always going to be the risk of an attack.

As a dog bite attorney in New Jersey, I see this all the time. Owners who have raised a dog for years will express surprise when an attack occurs. Animal behavior is unpredictable, and there is much that we have to learn about what makes them tick and what sets them off. Until that happens, it’s the responsibility of human beings to exercise care and take precautions with the animals under their charge and care, whether it is a 22,000 pound orca, or a pit bull.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

A family in Illinois is finding out just how hard an insurer will try to avoid having to pay out in a dog bite incident. The insurer, Illinois Farmers Insurance has filed suit this week to avoid paying compensation to the victim of a dog bite attack.

The dog bite here occurred in July last year. The victim Chloe Pluger was bitten by a dog belonging to Gary and Sharon Lindstrom. Chloe's father Matthew Pluger filed a lawsuit against the Lindstroms. The lawsuit sought to recover compensation for injuries that Chloe suffered in the dog bite attack. However, Farmer’s Insurance refused to cover the injuries. 

The basis for this was that Chloe's mother had been dating Lindstrom's son when the dog bite occurred. The insurer alleged that for months before the dog bit Chloe, and for two weeks after the dog bite, they had all been residing in the same house belonging to the Lindstroms. According to the insurer, their dog bite policy specifically excludes members of the same household from liability.

To those not familiar with the kind of measures that insurers can adopt to avoid having to pay out compensation to injured victims, this means that the Farmer's policy excludes Chloe because she had been living at the Lindstrom's residence when the attack occurred.

As this case shows, you can expect an insurance company to try everything possible to avoid having to pay out compensation even in a simple dog bite case where liability is apparent.   I don't know much about the injuries that Chloe suffered here, but in case of a severe dog bite, victims may be looking at heavy medical expenses that could leave them in severe financial distress if the insurer refuses to pay out.

Scott Grossman is a dog bite attorney in New Jersey representing victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, and Bergen Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

A slightly unusual dog bite incident occurred at Dulles international Airport in Virginia this month. A four-year-old child was attacked and bitten by a Customs and Border Protection dog.

The attack occurred in the baggage claim area. Customs and Border Protection personnel say they're not sure why the dog attacked the child. However, it seems that the dog bit the girl on the abdomen, leaving her with serious lacerations. The girl's mother tries to pull the dog off her child, but failed. The dog's handler also tried break up the attack, but was unsuccessful. The dog had bitten into the child's abdomen, and just wouldn't let go. The little girl had to be rushed to a local hospital for treatment. She received close to 20 stitches on her abdomen.

According to Customs and Border Protection personnel, incidents involving dog bite attacks are relatively rare.

Any dog bite incident that involves children always touches me personally. As a father and New Jersey dog bite attorney, I feel for parents whose children suffer through a terrifying dog attack. For a four-year-old child, any dog bite incident is terrifying. Children are more vulnerable to dog bite incidents because of their trusting nature and small size. Larger breeds or more aggressive ones, are likely to consider little children as toys, or even worse, prey. In fact, most dog bites in the United States involve children between the age of five and nine.

No matter what the circumstances of this particular attack, it seems highly likely that there was negligence at some level here.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth County, Bergen County, Passaic County, Ocean County and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

This tragic story affected me not just as a dog bite lawyer in New Jersey, but also as a parent. It’s beyond horrific, and I hope that it gives parents more pause for thought as to the kind of interaction they encourage between their pets and their infant children.

The incident occurred in Minnesota. A 10-day-old baby was killed in an attack involving the family pet, a Siberian Husky. The baby was apparently at home in the car seat. the dogma attacked the baby, leaving the child with serious head injuries. Emergency responders did try to revive the baby but they failed. By the time emergency responders arrived, the baby had stopped breathing. 

Apparently, the baby was alone in the room when the bite occurred. There were other members of the family present in the house, but no was at the scene when the bite occurred. There seems to be many details of this attack that are still to come out. However, for now, it’s hard enough to deal with the fact that an innocent baby has died a horrific death.

It brings home to all, including dog lovers and dog bite lawyers in New Jersey that so much of having a dog at home is about responsible ownership. The need for responsible dog rearing practices is epically important when you have just welcomed a new baby into the family. I am not sure how long this dog had been with the family, but it seems strange that they thought it fit to leave a dog alone with a baby if that’s indeed what they did. The family members haven’t spoken out yet about this, and I will not make any assumptions about what happened here.

I will however, offer readers a great resource from the American Humane Society to help dog owners who are preparing for the joyous arrival of a baby into the home

Helping your dog cope with the new arrival

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Residents of an apartment complex in Hoboken, New Jersey where a pit bull attacked three people are concerned about the presence of these breeds in their building.

The attack which occurred earlier this month, involved a pit bull that bit a total of three persons in an apartment. The victims included the dog's owner, her friend and another person who happened to step into the apartment. The three were injured seriously enough to require a visit to the hospital.

It was a horrific attack by any standards, and its severity can be judged by the fact that a team of Hoboken police officers as well as a Port Authority Police Emergency Service Unit were dispatched to the scene. The male pit bull in the attack was shot by police officers only after he had lunged at the third and last victim. Meanwhile, residents at One Independence Court, the building where the attack occurred, have begun to speak out about the presence of other pit bulls in the building, and their concerns that there may be more attacks.

This attack also has brought out strong reactions from both sides of the fence. Pit bull owners insist that these attacks do not reflect on the overall nature of the breed they believe is strong and gentle. Unfortunately however, the fact is that we see an inordinate number of serious attacks involving such breeds. No one denies that other breeds can just as easily attack, but those attacks rarely end in such horrific and serious injuries. Out of the three victims here, for instance, two needed surgery as part of their recovery.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Ocean counties and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I have been following the case of a horrific dog bite attack on a little 3-year-old in Alloway in Salem County at the end of last month. The owner of the dog that was involved in the attack has now been charged.

The attack occurred when the little girl walked into a barn on Robert Taffet’s property. The girl fell down, and the Rhodesian Ridgeback allegedly lunged at her, ripping off one of her ears. The girl underwent a surgical procedure for reattachment. According to animal control officers in Alloway Township, Robert Taffet has been charged with owning a vicious dog. Taffet has a number of champion dogs that have won several local dog shows. They also seem to have dragged Taffet to court several times in relation to bite incidents in the past.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback can be a furious hunter, but can also be a gentle and obedient dog. These breeds may also not be at their best behavior with small children, mostly because they tend to knock kids over with their rough play. They can also become extremely unmanageable when they don’t have enough mental and physical exercise. They have a great amount of stamina and need to have long daily walks and lots of place to run.  In the absence of physical exercise, they can display signs of destructive and aggressive behavior.

Any dog bite that involves a little innocent child who has no way of understanding why things happen the way they do, must be taken seriously.. It’s hard to understand how a pack of dogs that had been involved in four different attacks in the past, was still allowed to roam freely among people.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing victims of dog bite attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer serving dog bite victims in Monmouth and Bergen Counties, I track dog bite stories not just in the state of New Jersey but across the nation. This one particularly stuck out.

A 15-year-old high school student in Chicago had her hand severely mauled by a pit bull that was being walked by its owner. The victim Girthamarie Gary was walking to a library with her little sister when the two came across a woman walking her dog on a leash. As Girthamarie passed the dog, it attacked her hand.  The attack lasted 5 minutes, and when it ended, the tip of Girthamarie’s ring finger was missing, and her little finger barely hanging by some fragments of tissue and bone.

What happened next was shocking to Girthamarie, but not so surprising to New Jersey dog bite lawyers who frequently see such instances of bad and irresponsible ownership. The dog owner simply grabbed her pooch, turned around and fled, leaving Girthamarie seriously injured on the sidewalk. The young girl has had a metal pin inserted though the length of her middle finger to help the tissue in the finger grow back. She has been forced to sit out school activities and sports because of her bandaged hand. The hand is numb most of the time, except when she bangs it against something causing severe pain.

After the attack, the alleged owner of the dog, Catina Jones was given a ticket for failure to have a city license for her dog.  But, she denies that she was walking her dog during the alleged attack on Girthamarie.

Raising a pet dog is not a hobby to take lightly, but a serious responsibility. If you can’t afford the time or the resources to care for your pet - make sure that it gets its daily dose of exercise, socialize it and take care of all the licensing, vaccination and other formalities that come with raising a dog – I would advise you not to get a dog at all. Not only is it extreme cruelty to an animal which may act out  in the absence of training and socializing, but it could also place you at liability when a Monmouth County dog bite lawyer names you in a claim arising from a dog bite.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Christmas holiday seems to have been a particularly painful time for a number of families dealing with serious dog bite attacks in New Jersey and around the country.

In Florida just a few days before Christmas, a 20-month-old boy was killed in an attack involving a Rottweiler. The boy, Dallas Walter, was at a birthday party in Pasco County. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s office, the boy had dropped a cookie, and was just bending to pick it up when the Rottweiler attacked him.

The dog, which was not registered or even neutered, belonged to a distant relative.   According to the dog’s owner, they just received the dog two months ago through a newspaper ad, and have no idea whether the dog has behavioral problems. Pasco County officials are now trying to get in touch with the dog’s original owner. The dog has since been euthanized.

According to Dallas’s father, the dog was meant to be chained in the backyard, but seemed to have gotten loose. Not surprisingly, he wants criminal charges filed against the owner.

It is an incredibly tragic time for the family of this little boy. I don’t know the exact circumstances of this attack, what kind of conditions the dog had been kept in, and how it was able to enter the home. However, Rottweilers tend to be often linked to dog bite attacks. It’s important to remember though that even the friendliest little Pomeranians can become ferocious if they have been chained with no food and little exercise. Most dog bite cases ultimately come down to irresponsible and negligent ownership, and unfortunately, it’s innocent victims who are left injured and traumatized.  

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bite attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It’s not every day that New Jersey dog lawyers come across cases where a dog had to be killed by a victim in the middle of an attack. Something like that happened in Georgia last week. A 12-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull, and the attack only stopped when the girl’s mother grabbed a knife brick and killed the dog.

The victim Alexus Williams, had gone to a friend’s house to pick her up. When the door opened, the pit bulled lunged at her. Alexis’ mother rushed to help her.  She and another person in the friend’s house tried to pull the pit bull off Alexus, but could not do so. Alexus’s mother then grabbed a nearby brick, and struck the dog on the head. She then grabbed a knife, and attacked the pit bull. The pill bull ultimately died. 

Alexus has suffered severe facial injuries and bite wounds just about everywhere on her body. According to her mother, she has dog bite marks on her jaw, chest, arms and hips. What makes this sadder is that Alexus’ family is dealing with the fall out of a bad economy. They are already struggling financially, and finding the funds to get the kind of cosmetic surgery that Alexus need to regain her former appearance, is going to be hard. The owner of the dog has been cited for letting his dog free, but criminal charges have not yet been filed.

My heart goes out to Alexus and her family for whom this attack has come as a rude shock, and not even during the best of economic times. Alexus is likely already traumatized by the attack.  For a 12-year-old girl, the worst thing can be the thought that she may have her face scarred from the bite marks. I hope that Alexus and her family talk to a dog bite lawyer in the area who can guide them about what to do next.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bite attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

For five children in Winslow, it was a less than Merry Christmas this year, as they recovered from serious injuries in a dog bite attack in their own home.

The attack occurred when the five children, including four siblings and another relative were playing outside the Quann home in Winslow. According to elder sibling Brandon Quann, who is14-years-old, the two bulldogs that had apparently escaped from the neighbor’s backyard, ran up to the children. The dogs were very aggressive, and the children ran inside the home. The dogs ran inside behind them. The animals began to attack the kids, and Brandon hit the dog with a shovel to get them off his siblings. He then tried to lead the dogs out of the house by running out himself. Although he was successful in getting the dogs out of the house, the animals then began to attack him.

The owner of the dogs finally arrived at the scene, and was able to control them. They have been euthanized.  It turns out that it was the second attack involving the same dogs in less than a month.  They had been involved in another attack on the 27th of November when they managed to break out of their yard, and attack a local man, who was trying to protect his grandchildren from them.

The victims here were between 9 and 12 years old. They suffered bites and scratches, and were treated in hospital. Brandon Quann suffered multiple wounds to his hands and legs, and required hospital treatment. The dog owner has been cited for failure to restrain the dogs.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing injured victims of dog bites in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

New Jersey dog bite attorneys frequently come across cases of serious injuries in a dog bite attack. However, a recent attack in Virginia involving a woman who was fatally bitten by a dog, has highlighted the not-so-obvious- dangers from these bites.

According to news reports, the woman, who has been identified as Theresa Ellerman, was visiting a home in Norfolk when she was attacked by an Alaskan malamute. The woman was bitten on the neck, and soon after, began to experience respiratory problems. She died about an hour later. According to police, the dog did not maul Ellerman, but bit her at least once. The animal is under quarantine, and so far, no charges have been filed. The death has been ruled as accidental. The medical examiner has confirmed that Ellerman died from a dog bite to her throat.

This tragic incident is proof of how even an attack involving the warmest and most affectionate family dogs like Alaskan malamutes, can be serious enough to kill an adult. When you hear the terms “dog bite” or “dog attack,” you think of one or more than one ferocious dogs, attacking a person in a full-on violent assault. This case seems to have been different. There were bites on the throat, and death occurred within a couple of hours.

It just goes to show that even owners of dog breeds which are not typically considered aggressive, must exercise caution while having their dog among strangers. It’s impossible to accurately predict animal behavior, and there are hundreds of dog bites every year that can be traced to seemingly harmless family dog breeds, like Pomeranians. The fact is that dog owners have the responsibility to make sure that their dog does not bite or harm others, no matter what the size or breed.  

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, representing injured victims of dog bite attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As New Jersey dog bite lawyers often see, older people and children are more likely to be severely injured and traumatized by dog bite attacks. That’s why the case of 70-year-old Maria Zaldana who was attacked by a pair of pit bulls earlier this month was particularly heart rending for me.

Zaldana was apparently walking along a street on her way to her job at a florist’s in Bayonne, Hudson County, when she saw the dogs sitting on a porch. According to her friends, Zaldana is afraid of dogs, so she decided to cross the street. However, the dogs began to follow her, and soon attacked her. Zaldana suffered facial and leg injuries, and was left with portions of her scalp and skin ripped off. She was first taken to the New Jersey Medical Center and later taken into the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark.

The owner of the dogs was out of town, and had apparently given the dogs to a relative to watch them. The dogs seem to have escaped from the friend’s house. The animals have been put down.

The dog owner, Jessica Manno  is now facing charges. The entire tragic incident has quickly turned into a shockingly insensitive finger pointing exercise with one of the owners of the pit bulls, co-owner Jason Reid blaming Zaldana.  Reid who says he owns the dogs along with Manno, is blaming Zaldana for provoking the dogs into an attack.

It begs the question - why would a 70-year-old woman who was afraid of dogs provoke not one, but a two pit bulls into attacking her? Unfortunately, as a Monmouth County dog bite lawyer, I see this sort of denial or lack for sensitivity -call it what you will - by dog owners very often.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

It seems to be the month for celebrity pooches displaying bad behavior. This month, singer Jennifer Lopez and her husband were sued over a dog attack on a stewardess. Also this month, former NY Jets quarterback Joe Namath had his dog declared dangerous. The dog, a Labrador Retriever named Leo has apparently bitten three people in a period of two years.

Leo must now be muzzled and leashed when he goes out for a walk, and he is no longer allowed to roam the yard outside his owner’s home. When unleashed, he must be placed in a secure enclosure, and must be locked up when Namath has company. Namath must also place a dangerous dog sign on his property. Leo will also have to wear a special dog tag designating him as a dangerous dog.

Every year, an animal control officer will visit the home to ensure compliance.  If Leo bites another person, he could be declared vicious, and put down. According to Namath’s attorney, he may appeal the sentence. 

Namath’s dogs have been linked to several reports of attacks since 2007.

• In May 2007, a UPS driver was attacked by a bunch of dogs on the property. Leo was apparently one of the dogs that bit the driver.
• In February 2009, a contractor working on the house was attacked and bitten on the wrist.
• In May 2008, a home nurse was bitten by one of the dogs.
• In August, a landscaper became the most recent victim of a dog bite on the property.

However, Namath has never admitted that his dogs ever attacked anyone. As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, that doesn’t surprise me one bit. I often see dog owners continue to remain in a state of denial for days and weeks after an attack has occurred.

It’s also encouraging to see how Palm Beach County authorities have handled the situation. Earlier this year, the county made it possible for a dog to be declared dangerous if it attacked just one pet, instead of the earlier two. Animal control officials are also developing a website that will allow residents to see how close they live to a dangerous dog.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As a dog bite attorney primarily taking on cases in New Jersey, I also keep abreast of what’s happening on the dog safety front in the rest of the country. I came across this report from Massachusetts, where there apparently has been an increase in the number of dog bite attacks in 2009. In fact this year, the number of victims who had to be rushed to emergency rooms because of dog bites was the highest in years.

Across the state, there was a 19.7 percent increase in the number of dog bites that ended with victims having to be hospitalized.  As recently as the 8^th of November, a 77-year-old woman had to be rushed to the hospital after she was severely attacked by a bulldog.  The dog had bitten another woman just two weeks before it attacked the elderly woman, and has since been euthanized. The woman had to be hospitalized for 8 days.

According to animal experts, it’s hard to understand why dog bite attacks have increased this year. Some experts speculate that the trend of buying dogs at online pet stores has contributed to this spike in attacks. While an offline pet store will try to match the breed of dog to your requirements, there is none of this filtering when you go online to pick up a pet dog. Very often, dogs that end up in online pet stores have behavioral problems. These issues could cause a drop in their price, and so, owners bundle them off online, where a potential buyer has no way of confirming the history of the dog. He might expect a loving family pet, but may end up with an animal with aggressive tendencies.

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I would encourage people to avoid buying pets from online stores, where you have little way of confirming the dog’s behavioral history before it ends up in your home.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

I came across this story as I was getting my daily dose of dog safety and injury news from New Jersey and around the country. Actress/pop star Jennifer Lopez and her singer husband Marc Anthony are being sued for $3 million after their dog attacked a stewardess on a plane.

The stewardess, Lisa Wilson says she was attacked by the military-trained guard dog named Floyd, as she was heading toward the star couple carrying some cutlery. Wilson alleges that she heard Floyd growling and the dog then lunged at her. Wilson fell to the floor, and sustained serious back injuries.

Meanwhile, the veterinarian who has been hired by Wilson’s dog bite lawyers, says that the guard dog was dangerous because of his military training, and that Anthony was probably aware that the dog could be dangerous. According to Wilson, she was told to be careful while around Floyd, and not to make any eye contact with him. In fact, even Anthony’s own daughter was instructed not to look into the dog’s eyes. This shows that Anthony was aware that the dog was not entirely safe in the presence of people. The veterinarian says the dog should have been counseled to blunt some of its aggressive tendencies.

Nothing in Floyd’s behavior suggests that he was a warm and family pet who should have been allowed unleashed among strangers. We can expect a passionate defense of Floyd as the Lopez/Anthony lawyers try to present the pooch as a friendly and safe pet.

It’s not surprising to see that celebrities are just as clueless about responsible dog ownership as some of the owners New Jersey dog bite lawyers frequently across.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, representing injured victims of dog attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

I recently came across this article in the Telegraph about the growing numbers of families in the UK choosing to rear wolf dog breeds. Veterinary experts in the country are warning that this growing number of wolf dog hybrids could be a danger, especially to children who are looked upon as prey by these breeds.

In fact, according to representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, these wolf dog hybrids may be likely to express their naturally wild behaviors inside a home, placing young children at potential risk of an attack. In the UK, recent changes in the laws now allow these hybrid breeds to be raised without a license, as long as the dog is at least three generations removed from the wolf. The change in the law has led to an increase in the number of people rushing to buy these wolf dog pups which can cost up to 5000 pounds, or other wolf breeds like the Saarloos, which is derived by mating a German Shepherd with a timber wolf, and the Czechoslovakian wolf dog, which is a cross between a German Shepherd and a Carpathian wolf.

Last month, I discussed an ongoing controversy at a New Jersey town, after a pack of wolf dogs escaped from the owner’s home, and ran loose on the streets. The dogs didn’t attack anyone, but there have been calls for a ban on the raising of these breeds in the town.

The risk of danger from a wolf dog depends on how much of the “wolf” there is in the dog. It’s fair to assume that the “wilder” the hybrid, the more dangerous it can be, especially towards children. Wolves in the wild live in a social structure that is based on a hierarchy of dominant wolves. Including animals with traces of such traits in their genes may be undesirable for families with kids.  Raising wolf dog hybrids also requires special training techniques that may differ from regular dog training methods. Raising these dogs can be a much more time consuming time activity, than caring for regular breeds, and unless, you’re willing to invest the time and effort it’s going to take to train your wolf dog, I wouldn’t advise these  hybrids as family pets.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite injury lawyer representing victims of dog bites and attacks in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Officials in Holland Township in Huntingdon County have delayed a vote on whether to ban wolf hybrid dogs. The ban was proposed after 6 wolf dogs from a pack of 14 escaped from their owner’s property in September. Under the proposal, the owner will be given 30 days time to remove his wolf dogs from Holland Township, or face fines.

On September 6^th, the wolf dogs escaped through what police believe was a damaged fence. It was the fourth time this year that some of the dogs have escaped from the owner Cliff Zager’s home. The dogs didn’t attack any people. Of the 6 dogs that escaped, five were found within a few hours, while the fifth returned home a few days later. One of the dogs however, killed a neighbor’s cat.

Township authorities have delayed a vote while they decide what to do. Opinion is mixed. There have been locals speaking in favor of allowing the dogs to stay because they are not more dangerous than other dog breeds. However, Cliff Zager’s neighbors are justifiably anxious about another escape. The dogs have escaped 4 times thus far, and neighbors are worried that their children could be at risk from an attack. Several local residents want the animals banned from Holland Township.

Wolf dogs are a hybrid derived from mating a dog and a wolf. Typically, these kinds of hybrids can need more training and socialization. Much of the challenge in raising a wolf dog can depend on how much percentage of “wolf” is in the genes. Generally, the more wolf percentage the dog has, the more aggressive it may be. According to experts, wolf dogs tend to be good at escaping confined surroundings, because they need exposure to different situations and people. They may also have several features that may differentiate them from “regular” dogs. For instance, wolf dogs may not be as eager to please as a regular dog.

As of now, there is no approved Rabies vaccine for wolf dogs. What that means is that if a wolf dog is involved in a bite incident, it can be confiscated or euthanized even if it has been vaccinated properly.

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I believe that the safety of a community and its children should be placed above all else.  

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I often see how victims are subjected to blame and accusations of negligence or even aggression, when they have been subjected to a vicious attack by a dog. While I admit that there may be cases of provoked dog attacks, very often these attacks can happen with little provocation.

A 5-year-old girl in Plymouth, Pennsylvania is looking at spending several weeks in hospital after serious throat injuries in a dog bite attack. The girl was bitten at the Maple Acre Farms establishment by a German Shepherd that belonged to the proprietor of the establishment. The dog was apparently unleashed, and walking about the property freely. The girl was bitten on the neck, and left with serious injuries. She suffered severe damage to her vocal chords, a punctured larynx and has also undergone a tracheotomy. This little girl is currently hooked on to a ventilator.

The dog owner has admitted to police that his dog had been involved in bite attacks earlier. In fact, records show that the dog has bitten people on at least three previous occasions. In the most recent attack, the dog ended up almost biting off the victim’s ear.

There seems to have been nothing that the little girl here did to provoke an attack. She had seen the dog on previous visits to the property, and had even petted it earlier.  Her mother says they had no reason to believe the dog could turn vicious, because it was walking about freely, and unleashed.  They had no way of knowing that the dog had been involved in other attacks before.

This little girl is looking at not just up to a month in hospital, undergoing extensive treatment for her mutilated throat and neck, but also a lifetime of trauma and fear because of this attack. In New Jersey, I often find that we are too quick to blame victims of dog bites without knowing all the facts. Many times, dogs that are involved in bite attacks have been involved in attacks earlier, and owners have failed to leash their dogs properly.  While no one is blaming the dog here, to any New Jersey dog bite lawyer, it would seem that the owner of the German Shepard was extremely negligent in letting a dog with a history of aggression walk about freely, and unleashed.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

The Alliance for Rabies Control and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention marked World Rabies Day on the 28^th of September.

Fortunately, the US has been free of the canine rabies virus since 2007, mainly due to mandatory vaccinations and licensing standards. However, even though dogs may not contract the virus from another dog, they may still be at risk of contracting the virus from skunks, raccoons and other carriers, which is why owners are still required to vaccinate their dogs.

Although rabies may not be a major issue after a dog bite, you will still need basic first aid for the wound.  You may also need antibiotics, and your doctor may also recommend a Tetanus shot. In case of a child dog bite victim, it's best to seek immediate medical attention. This is especially true if the dog bites are located on the face, head or neck. If the dog can be traced to an owner, vaccination records will show whether it was vaccinated or not. However, in case of a dog that attacks and flees the scene with no owner nearby, and no way of tracing the owner, then your doctor may suggest a rabies vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4.5 million people every year suffer dog bites. One in five of these will be injured severely enough to require medical treatment for their injuries.   Not surprisingly, children are at a higher risk of serious injuries in a dog bite attack.  Adults aren’t completely safe either. In August, an elderly couple in Georgia was mauled to death by a pack of dogs owned by a single owner.

In New Jersey, dog owners are liable for any damages caused by a dog bite involving their pet, even if their dog has never previously showed any signs of being dangerous or vicious.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey dog bite lawyer representing dog bite attack victims in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across New Jersey.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Yet another pit-bull attack in New Jersey resulting in serious wounds.  The Star Ledger recently reported that a 41 year-old woman from Union City was in her son’s apartment when her son’s two pit bulls attacked each other.  The woman and her son attempted to break up the fight when one of the pit bulls attacked them. The son received a minor bite on his hand and did not want to receive any medical attention. However, the woman had several puncture wounds on her right arm and was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center.

As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, I can say that many of my clients have been attacked by pit-bulls or mixed breeds that likely had some pit bull in them.  However, the attacks also occur from a multitude of breeds and mixed breeds. The leading studies also reinforce this data. 

It has been my experience that the more severe dog bite victims often endure severe puncture wounds, bone crushing or bone piercing injuries of the face, arms, head, legs or other body parts.  Unfortunately, often times it is not just the physical scarring that will endure but the emotional scarring that may have an even more detrimental permanent effect on the victim.    This may occur when the victim of a severe and brutal dog bite attack suffers emotional trauma in the form of post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. 

The victims of severe dog bite attacks experiencing PTSD may lose the ability to cope with normal everyday situations.  For example; the victim may avoid many social situations for fear that a dog could be around.  Even a small non threatening dog could produce a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety to someone suffering from PTSD as a result of a dog attack.    This can be extremely debilitating and life altering.  The most severely affected dog bite victims will actually lose their freedom to just go for a simple walk around their neighborhood for fear of experiencing the horror once again. They relive the attack in their minds and something that may have lasted only a few seconds will seem like the longest moments of their lives. These victims endure their own “Vietnam War”. The PTSD can produce severe changes in the victim’s personality that may destroy their relationships and can even lead to the total breakdown of the family unit. 

After a severe dog bite attack if the victim begins to experience any of the above symptoms, receiving a proper diagnosis by a competent mental health professional is extremely important.  While ongoing long term psychotherapy may work well for some individuals, for others it is just too stressful and anxiety producing to re-enter the darkest and scariest moments of his or her life.       

Keep an eye out for future posts on this blog where I plan on revealing the problems with the laws in the state of New Jersey as they relate to the procedures that are to be taken by the authorities after a dog bite attack. My opinions are based on my experiences in representing victims of dog bite attacks in places like Paterson and Freehold as well as counties such as Bergen, Monmouth, Middlesex, Passaic and Ocean Counties.   

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks