A woman was attacked by a wild pack of dogs on a Queens boardwalk several years ago and suffered scarring and post-traumatic stress disorder.  She alleged that the City was responsible for creating an environment in which wild dogs packs thrived.  She settled her case for $750,000.00 during trial.  Here is a link to a story -

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/06/23/2010-06-23_marlene_filsaime_queens_woman_mauled_by_dogs_in_2001_wins_settlement_against_cit.html

A five-year-old girl was attacked and killed by a pit bull, and authorities have had difficulty finding anyone who will admit ownership of the dog.  A grand jury investigating the tragedy has thus far failed to return an indictment due to the uncertainty.  Here is a link to an  article  about the situation -

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12693077

Here is a link to one of our prior blog posts about keeping our kids safe from dogs -

http://deanmalonelawfirm.com/personal-injury-blog/?cat=4 

We as a society love our animals.  Many of us count our pets as family members, and we do our best to care for their needs.  However, with the privilege of animal ownership comes the responsibility of assuring that our animals do not harm others.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year.  Roughly one in five of those bitten, or 885,000, require medical attention.  In fact, in 2006, over 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.  Children between 5 and 9 years old are most at risk.

There are several tips for parents to lessen the likelihood that their children will be injured by dogs:

• Teach children not to approach unfamiliar dogs.  An unfamiliar dog might appear friendly, but it could turn aggressive without warning.
• Children should not run from or scream at a dog.  Screaming could aggravate a dog.  Also, an aggressive dog might view a fleeing child as prey.
• Children should avoid direct eye contact with dogs.  Some dogs might view eye contact as a sign of aggression.
• A child should not disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies.
• If a parent allows a child to pet an unfamiliar dog, the dog should be allowed to see and sniff the child first.  Even then, use caution allowing a child to interact with an unknown dog.
• Report stray dogs or dogs which regularly escape from homes or yards.
• If an unfamiliar dog approaches a child, the child should remain motionless.
• Children should not play with dogs without adult supervision.
• If a child is attacked, the child should roll into a ball and be still.

The easiest way to prevent dog bite injuries is for pet owners to know the temperment of, and appropriately control, their animals.  Let’s all do our part.