Few things are more frightening than being attacked by a dog. Such an attack can leave the victim severely injured and traumatized. If the victim is a child, the injuries can be fatal. Many states have statutes which hold the owner of the dog strictly liable for the dog’s behavior if the attack is unprovoked; that is, the victim did nothing to threaten the dog or cause it to attack in self-defense. It makes no difference where the attack took place or if the attack is the first for the animal. In some states, the dog gets “one free bite,” meaning the owner is not presumed to know the dog is dangerous until an attack has occurred once.
As an owner, there are steps you can take to minimize the possibility of your dog attacking someone:
- Spay or neuter your dog
- Do not teach your dog to play roughly
- Be sure your dog has up-to-date vaccinations
- Take your dog to obedience classes so it becomes accustomed to obeying voice commands
- Never leave babies or small children with a dog unless there is an adult with them
- Keep your dog in a fenced yard, do not allow it to roam
Basic safety tips include:
- Leave strange dogs alone
- Never approach any dog while it is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies
- Never try to pet a dog until you have let it see you and smell you
- Never leave children alone with any dog
- Never be aggressive with a dog, stare it in the eye, or run from it
- If a dog does attack, stay still
- If a dog knocks you down, roll into a ball to protect yourself
If you are attacked, seek help quickly. Try to find out who the owner is, but seek medical help first.