What To Do After A Dog Bites
The first thing to assess is where the bite occurred. If the bite is on the victims head or neck, or seek medical attention right away. The CDC also recommends washing any bite or scratch wounds with warm soapy water immediately. Its important to clean and dress the wound right away. Animal bites can easily lead to infection, even if the pet has been vaccinated for rabies.
If the wound doesnt require hospital treatment, apply antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage, and continue to do so each day until the wound heals. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean a dog bite, as it can weaken the tissue and actually make it harder for your body to heal.
If the wound is spurting or gushing blood, its important to apply pressure then get to the hospital right away, no matter where the wound is. You also need to seek medical attention if the bleeding is severe. To determine if the bleeding is severe, apply firm pressure to the wound for ten minutes. If the bleeding continues unabated, even after you do this, it means you need to go to the hospital, as stitches or sutures may be required.
Attack By A Vicious Police Dog
Police train powerful and dangerous dogs to attack suspected criminals. The law protects officers when their dogs inflict minor injuries, but not all injuries that result from a police dog attack are lawful or justified. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a police dog bite, please contact an experienced St. Louis dog bite attorney to examine your legal rights and options.
Was My Dog Defending Me
Its quite possible that your dog was protecting you. Dogs attack because they feel their property or loved ones are threatened so their owner is assaulted, they are likely to go into defense mode.
Perhaps you were being mugged or attacked and your dog was trying to help you which resulted in biting as a form of saving you from harm. In this case, its important that you leave the area immediately. You dont want yourself or your dog to be harmed and hopefully, the criminal involved is scared off.
Youll also want to contact the police and file a report. Make sure you are honest about the situation and try to be as descriptive as possible so you can help prevent others from being attacked by this criminal.
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If A Dog Has Threatened You
If you have been threatened or chased by a dog, but not bitten or attacked, report the incident to animal control as well. This is commonly called a “menacing act.” Once a dog has a paper trail of multiple menacing acts, animal control might be able to designate the dog as “potentially dangerous,” which forces new restrictions on the dog and its owner. These restrictions might include stronger containment requirements, sterilization, increased registration fees and more.
K9s Can Recognize Police Uniforms
This might seem weird to you but its essential both for a job well-done and preventing accidents.
K9s get trained around policemen with and without uniform. Thats how the dog should learn to differentiate the good guys.
But like with any method, this isnt 100% bulletproof. The dogs might stil bite, if they read some body language cues as bad.
Although accidents happen, police dogs continue to be a valuable part of the police force. Mainly because they track down suspects in a manner that humans cannot.
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What If I Get Bit By A Police Dog
Looking back at 2009, I think there are three incidents that significantly standout to me that occurred within law enforcements K9 community with critical lessons to be learned and shared. The three incidents all involve officers killing police dogs when each dog bites each of the respective officers.
What if I get bit by a police dog? is not a stupid question for an officer or deputy to ask. It is stupid not to ask the question if any officer is planning to or preparing to deploy with a police dog in a patrol or tactical environment. If the likelihood exists, it should be addressed.
I was speaking recently with a SWAT operator I just met and mentioned that I was preparing to write this article. Without hesitation, this operator said he would kill a police dog immediately if it bit him during an operation. The response initially disappointed me, but I attributed it to a lack of training and education about the potential situation and alternative outcomes.
In the K9 community, we have long been advocating strongly and consistently that police dogs are not deadly force and the courts have agreed. However, three officers used deadly force against police dogs when the dogs were biting them. Why did they do so? Is deadly force by a police officer justified for a police dog bite?
Incident #1
Incident #2
Incident #3
Training and Education
Rule #1 If you have not trained together, do not deploy together.
Stress
Policy or Training
How We Can Help
As a citizen, you have the right to proper treatment by law officials. This means not only do police officers have a duty to protect you, but their dogs do too. If you have been a victim of excessive force by a police dog, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to the Kershaw, Cook & Talley team today to see how we can help you.
Contact our legal office today at 520-6639 or visit our website to fill out a free consultation form.
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Police Dogs Are Taught The Go Find Command
Before a police dog goes on a quest to find a perpetrator, they must learn vital commands. One of which is the go find command.
Once the dog is familiar with go find, they can be taught to look for different things. For example objects, such as balls.
When they learn how to purposefully go search and find a particular thing, they get rewarded.
From there on, the dogs are given to find scents based on an item of the person. Or taken to a persons whereabouts.
Now that you know all of this, heres a video that can further show you how police dogs are trained to chase, attack, and bite bad guys:
Unseen Wounds When A Dog Bites You
Dr. Phillips says he has seen some gruesome stuff, but he is quick to acknowledge that the emotional component associated with dog bites is sometimes worse than the physical ones at least the physical wounds usually heal more quickly than the emotional ones. It may take some time before the victim realizes that they experienced a traumatic event. Dr. Phillips says he has had patients develop crippling anxiety after being bitten severe-enough anxiety that they required a referral to a mental-health provider.
My own sister was bitten by a dog while on a walk, and years later, still feels highly anxious when approached by off-leash dogs. Fortunately, she is comfortable with my dog, and she has learned to be a tree and avoid eye contact if an unfamiliar dog approaches her during beach walks.
Dr. Wolpaw believes that emotional fallout is another reason to seek medical care right away. He has seen cases of people dealing with post traumatic stress disorder that required treatment credible medical documentation is helpful should liability issues arise.
His final advice: Keep good records and take care of your medical issues, especially if the dog is not known to you. You shouldnt minimize the situation because there could be problems down the road. Better safe than sorry, he says.
Pay attention to updates and notices from your insurance company riders or policy amendments as they may declare coverage changes.
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Police Dog Injury Lawsuit
Specially trained dogs are a common tool of law enforcement and are used for a wide range of purposes. This includes detecting illegal goods and apprehending criminal suspects.
Just like any other tool, however, police dogs can be misused and cause harm. Police dogs are powerful animals capable of inflicting extreme injuries. A trained police dog bites with enough pressure to puncture lite sheet metal, and police dog bites routinely cause crush wounds, tears, avulsions, and punctures. These injuries are far more severe than those caused by chemical spray, tasers, or batons. They often require medical treatment, sutures, or surgery, and can frequently leave permanent scarring.
Because of the extreme danger posed by police dogs, they must not be used improperly. Far too often, however, police dogs are let off the leash to attack without reasonable cause.
For victims of the injuries that then result, pursuing compensation via legal action can be more complicated than it would be against a regular dog owner, but it is possible. If the use of a police dog was an unreasonable use of force under the circumstances, then justice and compensation may be in reach.
If you or a loved one were a victim of an unjustified police dog bite, you deserve a chance at justice. Morgan & Morgan, civil rights lawyers, are available 24/7 to review your case for free, so today. We want to fight for you.
Two People Are Being Treated In Hospital For Serious Injuries After Being Attacked By A Man And Dog In Two Separate Events
Isaac Phan Naytimer
Toronto police say they have detained a man and dog after two violent robberies and an attempted boat theft Saturday morning that sent two people to hospital with serious injuries.
Police were called about a carjacking near Third Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West just before 3 a.m. According to police, a man allegedly attacked the driver of an Uber, before setting his dog described as a 100 lb. pit bull or mastiff on the driver.
The driver is being treated in hospital with serious, nonlife-threatening injuries. Police say the suspect took the drivers red, imported car and fled.
Meanwhile, a woman and a man were cycling through Humber Bay Park about 90 minutes later. When the woman stopped to take some pictures, police say she was approached by a man who set his dog on the woman and her companion.
The woman was bitten several times and is being treated in hospital for fairly serious injuries, police say. Her companion was not injured.
Fortunately, there was no actual attack , Const. David Hopkinson said.
Police allege the suspect took the womans bicycle and some of her belongings.
A third person was bitten by the dog as the pair fled through the park.
A short time later, a man who was sleeping on his boat at the Etobicoke Yacht Club was woken up by a 5 a.m. commotion. Police say the man found the suspect and a dog on his boat.
After a brief confrontation, the suspect and the dog fled.
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How Can I Afford To Go Up Against The Government
Morgan & Morgan is the largest personal injury firm in the United States, and we have the resources to pursue cases against anybody, including state and local government. With us, you can afford to take on the government and demand justice because you dont pay anything upfront or throughout the course of the case. You only pay a percentage of your eventual winnings, so you will never be stuck owing money you dont have.
Ontario Has Strict Liability Laws
Ontario follows a strict liability rule when it comes to dog bite cases. And although it seems like It should be a relatively uncomplicated situation to deal with, there are always alternate viewpoints and conclusions.
Even though the dog owner is automatically viewed as responsible after a dog-bite, the victim will still have to prove they were attacked. The courts will still attempt to discern whether the dog was provoked and the possibility that the victim was partially responsible for the attack. The area of law that pertains to dog bite attacks in Ontario is referred to as The Dog Owners Liability Act. Here are the most important parts:
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S To Take After A Dog Bite
Example Of A Dog Scent Case
Ryan Willis was charged with the first-degree murder of his former girlfriend, Crystal Stahl. Several people witnessed Willis physically abusing Stahl while they were dating. After Stahl broke up with Willis, he told his friends that he would kill her by setting her taxicab on fire. A few weeks later, Stahl’s charred body was found in her taxicab, which had been set on fire.
During the trial, the state offered evidence that a bloodhound had detected Willis’ scent at the crime scene. Willis objected, arguing that scent transfer unit technology was not scientifically reliable. The trial court admitted the STU evidence. Willis was convicted.
The Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction but ruled that the evidence should not have been admitted. The use of new scientific techniques at trial requires proof of reliability. The dog handler who testified for the state was not a scientist and, thus, was not qualified to establish that STU was widely accepted in the scientific community. There was no proof that the handler used correct scientific procedures while employing the STU. There were also several foundational weaknesses because it is unclear how long a scent remains on objects or whether each person has a unique scent. Thus, it was held that the trial court improperly admitted the STU evidence.
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What To Do If You Are The Victim Of An Attack
An attack by a dog or other animal can be a traumatic event causing serious injuries. If you or a family member is bitten by a dog, you should follow these steps:
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Write down a description of the animal to give to authorities
- Get the names and contact information of witnesses to the attack
- If possible, take pictures of the injuries
- Record the date, time and exact location of the attack
- Try to obtain the name and contact information of the owner of the dog
Toronto is among cities with regulations authorizing animal services agencies to investigate dog bite incidents. The city has the power to issue a caution notice to the owner of a dog involved in an attack and make recommendations for avoiding attacks in the future. Its animal services agency can also order an owner to muzzle a dog whenever it is removed from the owners property.
What Do I Do If My Dog Bites Someone
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So many questions come to mind when you think about what would happen if your dog bit someone. What do I do to stop my dog? Is everyone okay? Do I need to call for help? Do I report the incident to someone? Could I get sued?
Your dog biting someone could possibly be one of the worst things you could imagine. Not only could someone get seriously injured but your beloved pup could be taken away from you. Its important that you know what to do should your dog bite someone.
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Do Police Dogs Ever Attack The Wrong Person
No matter how many hours are spent in training, a police dog is not a machine. He will make mistakes and occasionally chase and attack the wrong person.
Police dogs bite thousands of innocent civilians per year. And given their aggression and bite training, it very often gets ugly, leading to debilitating injuries, permanent scars, and even a few deaths.
Sadly, there is very little oversight of K9 units. There isnt even a database in the United States to keep track of police dog use, so its up to local journalists to tally injuries on their own.
For example, from 2017 to 2019, USA Today reported that Los Angeles and Indianapolis reported over 200 bites by their K9 units, while Chicago only had one.
This is why police dogs are normally used as a last resort when it comes to apprehending suspects. Their commanding presence next to their K9 partner is usually enough to intimidate the offending party and make them cooperate peacefully.
In these situations, theres no need to let go of the police dogs leash at all.