The “dog days of summer” typically refer to the hottest time of year between the beginning of July and mid-August. It is during these days that the warm temperatures and long daylight hours bring more people outdoors for recreation, spending time at the beach or pool, camping, cookouts or just hanging out with family and friends.
Because people – and especially children – spend more time outside, the “dog days of summer” also mean a greater risk for dog bites. This means dog owners could find themselves at the wrong end of a premises liability lawsuit should their dog injure another person.
The ASPCA reports that each year, approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs. This means close to 2 percent of the U.S. population suffers a dog bite.
Fortunately, around 83 percent of these bites do not cause enough damage to warrant medical care. In the other 17 percent, medical treatment of varying degrees may be necessary. Children are most at risk of being attacked or bitten by a dog, particularly children between the ages of 5 and 9. Fatal injuries are suffered in about 15 to 20 canine attacks per year nationwide.
In Florida, the Department of Health reports that around 600 residents are hospitalized each year due to injuries sustained in dog attacks, and there’s an average of two deaths a year.
How to Prevent Your Dog from Attacking People
Since the risk of dog attacks is so high during the hot summer months, it is essential for pet owners to know how to keep their animals from attacking other people. Even family and friends familiar to a dog may be at risk of injury. The ASPCA reports the majority of dog bites to children are sustained from a dog the child knows – either a neighbor’s dog, a friend’s dog or a family member’s dog.
If you are a dog owner, you can minimize the risk of your dog attacking or biting someone by:
Never leaving your dog chained up outside during the hot summer months. Doing so can increase the risk of aggressive behavior.
Limiting the amount of time your dog spends unsupervised.
Providing your dog with a loving home and safe place to live.
Keeping your dog safely confined to your yard or indoors, where it will be more comfortable in hot weather.
Never encouraging your dog to play aggressively, nor allowing others to engage in aggressive play with your dog.
Keeping your dog away from situations and scenarios in which it may feel threatened or feel the need to attack to defend itself or protect you.
Keeping your dog inside and away from fireworks and other loud noises which could startle your dog or cause it to become aggressive.
Following leash laws at all times.
Spaying or neutering your dog.
Seeking immediate treatment if your dog is showing signs of illness or injury. Pain has been known to make dogs act aggressively.
Regularly socializing your dog so it feels more comfortable around other people.
Training your dog to obey basic commands.
Learning how to spot signs of aggressive behavior and read your dog’s body language so you can defuse a potential attack.
Seeking assistance from a professional trainer as soon as your dog shows any signs of aggression, regardless of whether the dog has bitten or attempted to bite anyone.
Always erring on the side of caution when taking your dog out for walks, deciding whether to bring your dog to outdoor activities, and including your dog in other social situations.
Never leaving children and dogs together without constant, close supervision.
Dog Owners’ Liability for Dog Bites in Florida
Title XLV, Chapter 767 of the Florida Statutes covers a dog owner’s liability for dog bites, as well as any other injuries caused to people, other domesticated animals or livestock. According to Section 767.01:
“Owners of dogs shall be liable for any damage done by their dogs to a person or to any animal included in the definitions of ‘domestic animal’ and ‘livestock’ as provided by s. 585.01.”
Section 767.04 goes on to state:
“The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness. However, any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by the percentage that the bitten person’s negligence contributed to the biting incident.”
What does this mean to you as a dog owner? If your dog bites or attacks another individual, you may be held liable for any injury or damage caused, regardless of whether you were aware of any prior vicious behavior, and even if your dog has never attacked anyone in the past. Florida law does not give dogs “one free bite.”
Unless you can prove the injured party’s actions (teasing the dog, harassing the dog, attempting to engage in rough play or any other action the dog may consider threatening) incited the attack, you may be held liable for the dog bite injuries suffered by the victim.
Homeowners’ Insurance Often Covers Dog Bites
In many cases, even if you do not have separate pet insurance to cover injuries your dog causes, if your dog bites another person, damages may be covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy. Because insurance is often available to cover dog bite injuries, victims should not be reluctant to bring a claim if the dog’s owner is a friend, neighbor, relative or other acquaintance.
If you or a family member suffered injuries from a dog bite, consult with a skilled Jacksonville personal injury attorney to help you determine how to move forward with a premises liability claim to seek financial compensation.
The “dog days of summer” typically refer to the hottest time of year between the beginning of July and mid-August. It is during these days that the warm temperatures and long daylight hours bring more people outdoors for recreation, spending time at the beach or pool, camping, cookouts or just hanging out with family and friends.
Because people – and especially children – spend more time outside, the “dog days of summer” also mean a greater risk for dog bites. This means dog owners could find themselves at the wrong end of a premises liability lawsuit should their dog injure another person.
The ASPCA reports that each year, approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs. This means close to 2 percent of the U.S. population suffers a dog bite.
Fortunately, around 83 percent of these bites do not cause enough damage to warrant medical care. In the other 17 percent, medical treatment of varying degrees may be necessary. Children are most at risk of being attacked or bitten by a dog, particularly children between the ages of 5 and 9. Fatal injuries are suffered in about 15 to 20 canine attacks per year nationwide.
In Florida, the Department of Health reports that around 600 residents are hospitalized each year due to injuries sustained in dog attacks, and there’s an average of two deaths a year.
How to Prevent Your Dog from Attacking People
Since the risk of dog attacks is so high during the hot summer months, it is essential for pet owners to know how to keep their animals from attacking other people. Even family and friends familiar to a dog may be at risk of injury. The ASPCA reports the majority of dog bites to children are sustained from a dog the child knows – either a neighbor’s dog, a friend’s dog or a family member’s dog.
If you are a dog owner, you can minimize the risk of your dog attacking or biting someone by:
Dog Owners’ Liability for Dog Bites in Florida
Title XLV, Chapter 767 of the Florida Statutes covers a dog owner’s liability for dog bites, as well as any other injuries caused to people, other domesticated animals or livestock. According to Section 767.01:
“Owners of dogs shall be liable for any damage done by their dogs to a person or to any animal included in the definitions of ‘domestic animal’ and ‘livestock’ as provided by s. 585.01.”
Section 767.04 goes on to state:
“The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness. However, any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by the percentage that the bitten person’s negligence contributed to the biting incident.”
What does this mean to you as a dog owner? If your dog bites or attacks another individual, you may be held liable for any injury or damage caused, regardless of whether you were aware of any prior vicious behavior, and even if your dog has never attacked anyone in the past. Florida law does not give dogs “one free bite.”
Unless you can prove the injured party’s actions (teasing the dog, harassing the dog, attempting to engage in rough play or any other action the dog may consider threatening) incited the attack, you may be held liable for the dog bite injuries suffered by the victim.
Homeowners’ Insurance Often Covers Dog Bites
In many cases, even if you do not have separate pet insurance to cover injuries your dog causes, if your dog bites another person, damages may be covered under your homeowners’ insurance policy. Because insurance is often available to cover dog bite injuries, victims should not be reluctant to bring a claim if the dog’s owner is a friend, neighbor, relative or other acquaintance.
If you or a family member suffered injuries from a dog bite, consult with a skilled Jacksonville personal injury attorney to help you determine how to move forward with a premises liability claim to seek financial compensation.
Sources: