In recent years, it seems like dog bite cases have been grabbing headlines more frequently than they were before. Is this a sign of declining responsibility by dog owners? Are more people owning dangerous dogs or dangerous breeds? Is there even anything to this perceived phenomenon?
The answer to that last question is “yes.” According to the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, dog bite cases that forced the victim to go to the emergency room are up 44 percent over the last ten years. The data reflects the period covering 2005 to 2015. The data also shows that rural communities have more dig bites per capita than urban communities.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any other conclusions from this report. We don’t know why there was such a surge in serious dog bites that forced the victim to go to the emergency room. But what is clear, based on this data, is that dog bites are more prominent than ever and people need to protect themselves and know their rights when if they are involved in such an incident.
Owners are responsible for their dogs’ behavior in the state of California. If they haven’t properly trained their dog, or they know their dog is dangerous, or if they violate court orders in regards to controlling their animal, the owner can get into a lot of legal trouble if their dog attacks another person.
Source: CBS SF Bay Area, “Dog Bites Sending People To California Hospitals In Growing Numbers,” Len Ramirez, Oct. 31, 2016