Do you own a dog? Do you keep them leashed, caged, or tied? Or do you allow them to wander at large without any restrictions? If you have been doing the latter, then beware. You may be in violation of a state or federal law, or an implemented statute in your state.

Certain animal laws are imposed in order to set standards for pet owners in ensuring that their pets are secured at a safe distance from visitors, passers-by, delivery or service personnel, and other licensees.

The most accounted animal attacks are from unsecured pet dogs. They often cause severe injuries including:

• Abrasions

• Lacerations

• Punctures

• Tissue loss and avulsion

• Crush injuries

• Fractured bones

• Sprain / strain injuries

• Scars

• Inflections such as rabies, cellulites, “C canimorsus” infections

There actually have been several instances when lives are lost to this dog bites. Each year, dog bites 4.7 million people in the United States. On average, 800,000 require medical attention. People between the age of 10 to 20 die of dog bites annually. Sadly, most of these dog attacks involve children.

Unfortunately, incidents like these continuously occur. Numerous owners still neglect to conform to their duty to provide reasonable care in preventing their dogs from hurting other people.

Dogs are considered a man’s best friend for plenty of reasons. Besides being adorable and smart, they serve a purpose to homeowners, primarily to guard their homes. But there are times when they fail to distinguish intruders from others. They can display vicious characteristics at various circumstances, such as:

• When they are scared, angry or threatened

• If he feels he’s cornered or crowded

• When he is protecting his belongings or property such as his food, toys, bone, etc.

• When his protecting his space such as his sleeping area, yard, porch, car, and home

• When he feels like chasing or attacking another animal; or perhaps a person, if he is being teased or taunted

• When he feels upset for being lost or hurt

• When he feels startled

California, as a strict liability state, holds a dog owner liable for the injuries inflicted by his dog upon a human being, even if the owner was not negligent and whether or not the dog has bitten anyone before. In common law states, the plaintiff must prove the dog owner knew his or her dog was dangerous – such as from previous attacks – but failed to take precautions.

Nearly every state make an individual legally responsible for negligence that results in any wound or harm caused by a dog, and breaching a public health and safety law such as a leash law or a ban against dogs running at large.

The usual defenses to dog bite claims are:

• That the victim taunted the dog

• The victim was an intruder

• The victim was negligent

• The victim consciously assumed the danger of being bitten

• The parents of a bitten child negligently failed to control him

If you are a dog bite victim and your claim is challenged by the dog owner by coming up with a defense, then you should call and hire a lawyer with expertise on dog attacks.

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AAL