No matter how minor the bite is, the victim should seek medical care. In either case, you should immediately hire an attorney. If it does bite or attack, however, here’s what happens. Owners can be issued an unlimited fine or … You have to ensure that your dog is not a menace for health staff, postal workers, delivery staff, and other professionals who may come to visit you. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. At the very least, put your dog through basic, Learn your dog's body language, as well as. Get our FREE training guide when you sign up for the Spruce Pets newsletter! Hi i have a 2 year old Patterdale Terrier, he has always been very excitable but is well trained. The victim may need professional medical assistance. By: Caitlin UltimoPublished: November 9, 2015. Fortunately for Becky, the child’s parents did not go after her legally, and did not report the bite to law enforcement. But they are still animals, and sometimes they can be unpredictable and dog bite someone and know the legal rights of dog attack.And what happens if my dog bites someone?. If someone is harmed on your property in a dog bite attack, it can raise questions regarding liability in the accident. As a dog owner, you must take responsibility for training your dog and keeping them under control at all times. In most instances, however, this means that you as the owner are liable for any injury that your pet causes. He tends to after the cheeks and ears. It may even help you avoid a messy lawsuit. Dogs bring a lot of joy to our lives, but they can also bring problems. Crucially, it is also important to understand that your dog does not even have to bite – if someone just feels threatened by the behaviour of your dog, you could be prosecuted under the DDA. They may think it's part of the fun at first, but even that can turn to aggression quickly. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, Use These Tips to Keep Your Dog From Biting, How to Handle Your Dog Being Aggressive During Nail Clippings, Help Your Dog Get Over Its Fearing Strangers, How to Train Your Dog to Safely Interact With Kids, How to Stop Your Dog From Barking Excessively, How to Stop Possessive Aggression in Dogs. What happens to your dog if it bites someone? Taking the right steps will help minimize the legal risks to both you and your dog. If your dog bites someone, you will probably find yourself worried and upset. Help the bite victim wash the wound thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Could your dog be euthanized or taken away from you? This is a question I hear on a daily basis in my practice. And half of the people bitten by dogs are children between the ages of 5 and 9. In many states, it is illegal to leave the scene if your dog bites someone. Learn about the signs of distress in your pet fish in order to treat it and prevent it in the future. In some states, law enforcement is authorized to remove your dog from your premises after he bites someone. Sadly, in some cases major aggression cannot be reversed and the most humane thing to do is euthanasia. However, they can quickly turn on someone they don't know. Typically, it is this insurance that will cover you in the event of a lawsuit. If your dog bites someone and you are uninsured, the costs of medical care, legal expenses and other fines could easily cost thousands of dollars and leave you financially ruined. Next, Bisnar suggests notifying your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance company or broker about the incident. This shows the victim that you are accepting responsibility for your dog. He's been nibbling, and I'm worried he will bite someone at the park and I'll get in trouble. When meeting an unknown dog, allow the dog to come to you. When a dog bites its owner, there are often a gamut of feelings: shock, disbelief, anger, hurt and sometimes guilt. “Make it clear you are in this with the victim. If your dog has bitten someone and broken skin, the attending physician is obligated to report the dog bite to the local animal control agency in most municipalities. It's a natural instinct that is still present in domesticated dogs, no matter how nice they are. edit edit tags flag offensive close merge delete. You should also contact an attorney if you don’t have insurance and the victim asks you for money. How do I prevent this? If the owner and dog cues are appropriate you can, crouch down or turn to the side. Remember that what you say may be used against you later if a legal or civil action is taken. “You have to be on notice that your dog might have a propensity to bite people before you are liable for the damages caused by that dog’s bite,” he says. An animal owner is anyone who owns, keeps, or cares for an animal. 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