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

Nationwide, approximately 44% of all serious dog bites involve pit bulls. In yet another attack involving these dogs, a 12-year-old girl in Washington DC is recovering from serious facial injuries sustained in a pit bull attack. According to news reports, the girl was attacked as she walked on the street. She suffered severe lacerations to her face.

The attack has once again stirred debate on whether pit bulls are more aggressive than other breeds. In the Washington area alone, the attack on the girl was the second in a single week involving pit bulls. Over the past year however, there has been at least one fatality in the same area where a man was mauled to death by his pit bulls. Another dog bite involving a pit bull left another victim in need of more than 100 stitches.

Any debate about the dangers from aggressive breeds like pit bulls always generates plenty of heat. Pit bull lovers and owners are adamant that these dogs are the friendliest, most gentle animals, and that most pit bull attacks can be traced to poor ownership. As a New Jersey dog bite attorney, I have to agree with that to some extent. With the right kind of attention and adequate care, pit bulls can make loving family pets. In fact, very often attacks involving pit bulls feature owners who seem simply unprepared for the responsibilities of owning and raising such breeds. Unfortunately, the result is a maladjusted and aggressive dog that can attack without provocation or reason.

Having said that, I wouldn't recommend having a pit bull as a family pet if you have little children in the house. Whether you like it or not, these breeds are linked to a large number of dog bites every year in the US, followed closely by rottweilers.

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.

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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.  

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