According to a survey performed by the American Pet Products Association found that there are roughly 90 million dogs owned in the United States. When you combine that number with a figure from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which says that about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year, it is easy to see the potential problems that can occur as a result of dogs and dog owners. The highest rate for dog bites is for kids aged 5-9.
Many of these dog attacks that occur happen with dogs that the victims are familiar with. Here in California, we see the most dog bites in the country. The estimated number for California dog bite claims in 2016 is 1,934, dwarfing the projected 1,325 claims in Florida, the state with the second most dog bite claims.
Is it that we have a problem with dogs in our state? Not really. The population of California means that there are more dog owners here. But just because there are more people and more dogs here doesn’t mean that we will magically see a vastly more experienced and responsible group of dog owners. Some owners simply don’t train their dogs well enough, and they ignore clear dangerous behavior that their pets exhibit.
When these dogs cause harm to innocent people, it is imperative for the victim and his or her loved ones to pursue justice. Dog bites are never okay, and the owners must be held responsible.
Source: iii.org, “Dog Bite Liability,” Accessed June 30, 2017
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