A 17-month old boy was severely injured in a Los Angeles dog bite attack on July 28, 2009 after the family's pit bull grabbed the toddler by his face and mauled him at their home in Redondo Beach, California. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the dog attack took place when the child reportedly touched or pulled the pit bull's tail. The child's mother pulled the dog's jaw off her son's face and called police. Redondo Beach police officials said the child suffered severe dog bites in the face, puncture wounds and eye injuries. The toddler was taken to an area hospital.
The pit bull was apparently still agitated and remained in a back room of the house. It took two animal control officers to corral the dog as two other police officers stood by. A vicious dog investigation is underway. This attack comes only a week after two loose pit bulls killed a smaller dog, just blocks away, although the two incidents were not connected. In that incident, the pit bulls attacked a young girl walking her dog. When the girl picked up the dog, the pit bulls reportedly pulled it from her arms and killed it.
My heart goes out to the little boy who was so brutally mauled by this animal in his own home. It's indeed fortunate that his mother was able to get the pit bull away from her child. This could have been a lot worse. I wish this little boy the very best for a quick and complete physical and emotional recovery given the trauma he has undergone. Please keep him in your prayers.
Dog Bite Statistics
Pit bull rights activists and other animal rights groups will argue that these dogs are adorable animals that are no less aggressive than any other breed of dog. But statistics tell a different story. According to Dogsbite.org, a Web site for dog attack victims nationwide, of the 88 fatal dog attacks in the United States in a three-year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, 59 percent or 52 incidents involved pit bulls followed by rottweilers (14 percent), American bulldog and Husky (5 percent each). This dog bite fatality finding is more or less consistent with an earlier report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which states that pit bulls and rottweilers together account for 60 percent of fatal dog attacks.
Strict Liability in California Dog Bite Cases
A number of California cities are starting to impose more stringent regulations on pit bull owners including restraining, spaying and neutering, and requiring liability insurance coverage. Insurance coverage is an important issue because in cases where the negligent dog owner does not have liability insurance the dog bite victim is forced to bear the costs and expenses. If your dog bites someone – whether on your property or in a public place – California's strict liability statute states that you will be held liable for that individual's injuries unless he or she was on your property illegally.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of dog bites or a dog attack, please consult an experienced California personal injury lawyer who will help protect your legal rights and make sure you receive fair compensation to cover medical expenses, cost of reconstructive surgery, lost wages (where applicable) and emotional distress.
SLS Consulting