Florida dog owners may want to make sure young children are fully supervised when around their dogs. Young children are susceptible to dog bites, even from dogs that are not considered vicious and have no history of bites or attacks. A recent attack in California’s East Bay Area left a 6-year-old boy seriously injured.
The dog bite occurred in Discovery Bay, California, on the evening of Oct. 10. Contra Costa Animal Services received a call reporting a severe dog bite. The child had suffered a serious bite in the face. He underwent surgery at Children’s Hospital in Oakland.
It is believed that the dog, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, belonged to a family member or friend. The owner was not present when the attack occurred. The dog has no history of vicious behavior. The dog was removed from the home and taken to the animal shelter to be quarantined. Animal Services is still investigating the attack.
The first thing to do after a dog bite is to seek medical attention, even if the bite appears to be minor. Some dogs bite when they have rabies and other diseases. If left untreated, the bite can turn into an infection and cause a serious medical condition or even death.
After treatment, you may wish to pursue legal action against the dog’s owner. Even if the dog has no history of violence and the owner had no idea that the dog would attack a person, the owner can still be held liable. The victim or the family may be able to file a lawsuit and claim several types of damages, including pain and suffering, medical expenses and emotional distress. If the dog attack caused property damage, the owner may be held liable to compensate the victim for the damage.
Source:
ABC 7, “Boy suffers severe dog bite in Discovery Bay home” No author given, Oct. 11, 2013
