|
Dog Bites
Dogs have been “man's best friend” for 3,000 years, but their domestication cannot change the fact that they are predatory animals and capable of attacking humans. Though about 38% of the population, according to the Pet Food Institute, owns dogs, the CDC reports that about 2% of the population is bitten each year.
Annual estimates for dog bites in the US are around 4.2 million, mostly
children. Each year, 10-20 are killed, and children are by far the majority,
with the rest being mostly elderly. Children are often targets because of their lack of caution in handling dogs and their small stature.
Why Dogs Attack
Many dogs attack because they feel threatened. Poking a dog, interrupting a dog at rest or while eating, or taking something from a dog may be taken as a threat and trigger the animal's aggressive instincts. To dogs, small, quick-moving children can resemble prey, and may trigger a dog's predatory impulses. Dogs are also very territorial and a dog may attack someone who impedes its property, which explains why dogs are aggressive towards mail carriers. Most victims (around 60%) are attacked by a dog belonging to their family or a friend. People who are comfortable with a dog are more likely to tease, which may anger or threaten it and provoke an attack. Discipline in the form of physical or verbal abuse may also trigger rage and result in a dog attacking its owner.
Preventing Dog Bites
To avoid attacks, one must respect the dog's animal instincts: never approach a strange dog or its territory without its owner present; never tease, stare down, or threaten a dog, even if it's your own. Owners should teach dogs obedience, but not punish them with excessive abuse. Children should always be supervised when around dogs regardless of how friendly the dog seems; any dog can be provoked to attack. If you do come in contact with a hostile dog, you should avoid eye contact and sudden movements, stand firm, and try commanding the dog as if you were its owner. If the dog does attack, try to stay on your feet to keep your height advantage, cover your vital areas, and try to stun the dog by hitting or kicking it, giving you the opportunity to run away.
Penalties for Dangerous Dog Owners
For minor or first-time bites, owners are usually obligated to enroll their dog in obedience school. When a dog seriously injures or kills a person, however, it is put to sleep. Dog owners can also be punished when their pet attacks someone depending on the severity of the attack and the dog's history. A dog owner will usually not be held accountable for a first-time attack unless their treatment of the pet led a tendency towards aggression or negligence on their part was a factor in the attack. If the owner is found to be responsible for a dog attacking, especially when the dog is a repeat-attacker, penalties for the owner can range from large fines to imprisonment. If a dog attack leads to the death of a person, the owner may face charges of manslaughter.
Author: Billy Hubbard
Last Update: 05/31/2005
|
