dog bite

One small dog was killed and two others were attacked in a dog bite incident in Lake Elsinore after two pit bulls went on a frightening rampage. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the incident occurred October 31, 2011. Police say the two loose pit bulls, which had a history of similar attacks, bit 48-year-old Anna McDonald's 4-year-old papillon, Sydney. McDonald said she was running with her dog when the pit bulls came out of nowhere and ripped Sydney right in front of her. McDonald told the newspaper: "They weren't dogs. These were some other kind of creature."

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A 31-year-old woman was seriously injured in a dog bite incident after she was attacked by two American bull dogs while walking her own pets. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the vicious dog attack occurred in the 200 block of East O Street in Colton, the morning of October 16, 2011. Officials say the woman was walking her dogs with her 11-year-old son when the two loose dogs charged the woman's pets and began to fight with them before turning on the victim. The woman suffered several bites on her chest and one of her legs. Her son used his skateboard to defend his mother by hitting the dogs. He was not injured. The woman was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The dogs' owners have been cited for several municipal code violations.

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Two girls, 12 and 9, were injured in a dog bite incident after a pit bull mix attacked them. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the dog attack occurred in a shopping center along 48th Avenue, near Jackson Street, in Coachella, the night of August 23, 2011. Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were called to scene after the pit bull mix attacked the children who were walking on the south sidewalk of 48th Avenue. The 12-year-old girl sustained a serious leg injury while the other girl suffered relatively minor injuries. Officers tried to control the dog. But when the dog attacked the officers, one of them shot the animal, killing it.

My heart goes out to these young dog bite victims, especially the girl who has suffered serious injuries. I wish them both the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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California leads the nation in the number of dog bite claims, according to a report released by State Farm Insurance. The Insurance Journal reports that State Farm recorded 369 dog bite claims and paid out $11.3 million in California in 2010. In 2009, the insurer paid out $90.1 million in dog bite liability claims nationwide compared to $83.2 million in 2008, $84.6 million in 2007 and $78.1 million in 2006.

Dog Bite Claims

In the year 2008, dog bite claims in the United States represented one-tenth of all claims. Also, children account for more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims, State Farm's numbers show. Of the 33 dog bites that resulted in death in 2010, 20 of the fatalities were young children, the company said. California led all states with the highest number of dog bite claims while Illinois (317 claims) and Ohio (215 claims) were second and third. Other states that made the top 10 list were Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Minnesota, New York and Indiana. Read the rest »

A dog bite incident in Bakersfield involving two pit bulls has left Alisha Billington and her family in fear, ABC News reports. Officials say the pit bull attack occurred on April 24, 2011. The Billington family dog, Dallas, was killed by two pit bulls that charged through their fence into their backyard. The dogs also turned and attempted to bite Billington's husband. Since no humans were injured in the incident, the authorities were not able take the dogs into custody. On April 28, 2011, the vicious dogs tore through the fence again. No one was injured that time either. One of the animals was surrendered to animal control after this second incident, but the seemingly vicious dogs continue to remain next door to this family. Billington says she now fears for the safety of her 2-year-old daughter.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family affected by this vicious Kern County dog attack. I wish them safety and peace of mind during this stressful time. Read the rest »

Bob Ferguson, 78, was injured in a dog bite incident in San Jose when he was attacked while walking his own small dog. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the injury dog attack occurred on December 29, 2010 in the Blossom Hill neighborhood of San Jose. Two large dogs attacked Ferguson causing severe bite injuries to his left ear, head and arm. He was taken to the emergency room for treatment. Officials are investigating the incident as a dangerous dog attack. The boxer and Labrador that attacked Ferguson could be allowed to live if the owner buys liability insurance and takes strict measures to secure the dogs.

My heart goes out to Bob Ferguson for the serious injuries he has sustained. This dog attack could have been a lot worse had a neighbor not intervened and chased the dogs away. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He will be in my thoughts and prayers. Read the rest »

Officials are saying that charges are possible in a fatal dog bite incident, which killed 53-year-old Christina Casey in the backyard of her Moreno Valley home on November 2, 2010. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal dog attack involved two pit bull mixes, which mauled Casey to death. The Riverside County District Attorney's office could file involuntary manslaughter charges against the dog owners who have not yet been identified. Police believe the dogs were owned by a neighbor. A forensic dentist confirmed that the pit bull mixes were responsible for Casey's fatal bites. Read the rest »

Sherrie Barnett, 54, was injured in a dog bite incident after she was attacked by a pit bull while walking her dogs in her neighborhood. The Daily Democrat reports that the vicious dog attack occurred on September 23, 2010 in Yolo County. The pit bull broke free of the tether holding it to a tree and attacked Barnett and her dogs. Barnett sustained injuries to her fingers and hands and has had to undergo rabies treatments because the dog was not vaccinated. Authorities impounded the pit bull for 10 days because it had an expired license. Read the rest »

A 4-year-old boy sustained major injuries in a dog bite incident in San Bernardino as he was spending time in a relative's house. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the boy and his mother were from Michigan visiting family members in San Bernardino. Police say the child was playing in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of West Windsor Street and had just picked up a toy. That was when the pit bull attacked, unprovoked and without warning. The boy sustained severe bites to the back of his head, buttocks, arms and hands. However, he is expected to survive. The boy's mother and grandmother were also injured as they tried to get the dog off the child. No one has been arrested or charged. Read the rest »

Hao Yun "Eddie" Lin, a 33-year-old letter carrier, suffered fatal personal injuries the afternoon of May 25, 2010 after he was attacked by a Rottweiler on his Oceanside route, which caused him to fall and hit his head. According to a news report in the North County Times, Lin was found lying on the street with a major head injury that day and taken to a local medical center. He had severe brain swelling from the fall and died from those injuries on June 3. The Rottweiler that attacked Lin was put down at the owner's request, officials said. An investigation is ongoing. Read the rest »