No one wants to risk being the victim of a dog bite attack but many people believe they are safe in certain situations. They may think they are safe when they are with the dogs of their friends and family, despite the fact that these are the dogs most likely to bite them. They may think they are safe at an animal shelter where the animals are being watched after, but a recent accident makes it clear that this is not the case.
Keep reading to discover what happened when one young girl was bitten at a California animal shelter. If you have been the victim of a dog bite, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to find out what your legal options are.
The Story of a Seven-Year-Old-Girl
In May, a young girl was at an animal shelter in Romoland. She was visiting the Akita rescue kennel when she was attacked by two-year-old male dog. The dog, according to one news article, lunged at her and bit her on the face. The victim was rushed to the hospital and went through three hours of surgery on her face. The result was more than 1,000 stitches throughout her face. It has not been confirmed that she will need continuing surgeries on the scars but experts believe it is likely.
This is Not an Isolated Event
Though this story is enough to make any person – especially parents – scared for their safety and the safety of their loved ones, it is easy to brush it off as an isolated event. This is not the case. According to a news report, this is the fifth serious dog bite accident in this particular kennel in recent years. When you consider that just one kennel has resulted in five serious bites it is easy to see that there are likely more bites happening at kennels across the state and country.
How Can Kennels Be Safer for Animals and People?
One accident is too many but when there are multiple happening throughout the year, the issue has become serious. There are a number of things that can be done to help prevent these types of accidents. First, it is important to note that this accident happened at a private kennel. It is reasonable to assume that more oversight is needed of these facilities.
Second, it is important that children and adults alike know how to stay safe around new dogs. This involves knowing the signs of an aggressive dog, not approaching a dog quickly, and more. Finally, it is important to hold dog owners or caregivers responsible for these actions. This is why we recommend anyone injured, or with an injured family member, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation with a personal injury attorney.
