Even small and fluffy dogs that appear relatively harmless are capable of biting others and causing them serious and sometimes even fatal injuries.
Recently, a man in Michigan went out for an early morning jog on a rural road and died as the result of a dog attack. According to WLTX 19, the man had just run over a mile when two dogs dragged him into a ditch and proceeded to bite him several times in both arms, his back, chest, left thigh and buttock. As the man screamed for help as he lay bleeding on the ground, a neighbor tried to administer first aid. Shortly after she was no longer able to feel the man's pulse, the two dogs came back. Instead of administering CPR to potentially revive the man, she had to retreat away from the area.
WLTX 19 states that the owners of these dogs were aware of their animals' aggression and had been sued by another person who had been bitten by them in the past. These dogs reportedly dug out of their kennel and escaped their owner's property on a regular basis. It is suspected that this is what they might have done on the day that the man died.
Why do dogs bite?
In this situation, the dogs that attacked and killed this man were Cane Corsos weighing approximately 100 pounds each. However, regardless of what type of breed a dog is, their gender or their age, all dogs are capable of biting and causing harm. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs typically bite when they:
- Find themselves in a stressful situation that requires them to defend their territory.
- Are scared or after they have been startled.
- Are sick or suffering from an injury and want to be left alone.
Additionally, dogs bite when they want to protect something that is valuable to them, like their food, toys or puppies.
Reasons to be concerned
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that approximately 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs every year and that about 20 percent of all dog bites result in injuries that warrant medical attention. Additionally, many of these bites require victims to undergo reconstructive surgery. According to the CDC, more than 27,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery after a dog bite in 2012.
In section 3342 of California's Civil Code, it says that the owner of any dog is liable for damages if another person was harmed by a bite inflicted by their dog or if they were bitten in a public place or lawfully in a private place. If you were recently attacked and bitten by a dog, contact an attorney in your area who can hold the dog's owner responsible for their pet's actions.
Keywords: dog, bite, animal, attack
