Watching out for these potentially dangerous situations can help reduce the risk of a dog bite injury.
Any dog has the potential to bite—whether out of fear, anger, or pain—and cause serious injury. While it is very important to pay attention to dogs’ cues that they are feeling upset, such as barking, growling, or showing their teeth, the safest course of action is to avoid situations where a dog might have the opportunity to bite.
If you cannot avoid interacting with dogs entirely, at least be sure to watch out for these 6 warning signs that you may be in a dangerous situation.
Guard Dog Duty: Any time a dog is on its own turf, it has the potential to become territorial. This behavior can be exaggerated if the dog is in its yard without its master. Some reports show that about 14 percent of dog attacks occur under this set of circumstances.
Dangerous Breed: While some people would take issue with the idea that any particular breed is inherently more likely to attack than another, nonetheless the breed can be a warning sign of the level of danger you face when interacting with a given dog. Powerful breeds like pit bulls, rottweilers, akitas, and chows can cause very severe injuries if and when they attack. Nearly 75 percent of lethal dog bite incidents in 2014 involved pit bulls or rottweilers.
Dogs in a Pack: The pack mentality can transform an ordinarily docile dog into a much more aggressive one. In 2014, 57 percent of dog bite fatalities involved two or more dogs.
Chained or Tethered Dog: When a dog feels threated, it normally has the options of running away from the situation or attacking. A chained or tethered dog does not have any option but to bite. This has led to many dog bite injuries. There were 47 dog bite injuries from chained dogs in 2014 and more than 500 since 2003.
Male Dogs: In general, male dogs tend to be more aggressive than females. Males that have not been neutered are typically considered the most aggressive of all.
New to the Household: According to experts, it can take up to 60 days for a household to settle into a comfortable hierarchy after a new person or a new dog comes to stay. In 2014, 19 percent of victims killed in dog attacks were visitors or new additions to the household. In 2013 this figure was even higher at 38 percent.
Get Help from a Dog Bite Injury Attorney
No matter how careful you are, it is possible to be bitten by a dog. This type of injury can be very painful, and you may even require reconstructive surgery if the bite was on your face. If the bite occurred due to the owner or handler’s negligence, you can and should seek compensation for your pain and suffering with help from an expert dog bite injury attorney like Fernando D. Vargas. Call 909-982-0707 to learn more.
