December 8, 2010

Emergency Landing after Dog Bites Two Passengers

Many animal lovers have a hard time parting with their pets. They bring them on car rides, walks, and even fly with them on vacations! As responsible pet owners and Phoenix dog bite attorneys, we must adhere to certain expectations, such as cleaning up pet waste, keeping our animals appropriately vaccinated, and providing adequate restraints. Even the most well-trained dogs are not predictable and there is always a risk that they may injure someone, and this is why these expectations are set.

A passenger on a Phoenix-bound U.S. Airways flight on Sunday was traveling with a dog in a carrier (Associated Press via AZ Central 12/6/10). The passenger let the dog out of the carrier while the plane was in flight and the dog bit another passenger and a flight attendant. The pilot had to make an emergency landing to take care of the situation. The severity of the injuries are not known.

Dog bite injuries send over 1,000 people to hospital emergency rooms every day (Dogsbite.org 12/08/10). There are several breeds that have statistically higher risks of causing bite injuries, including pit bulls, rottweilers, and presa canaries. The dog on this recent flight was a smaller breed as it was being transported in a carrier, but don’t let size fool you; even small dogs can cause serious harm.

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Posted In: Injuries , Dog Bites

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October 13, 2010

Protect Your Family and Your Pets-Free Rabies Vaccinations Offered in Phoenix

Families often view their pets as essential family members. They take them on vacation, they take photos with them, and at times they must scold them. As dog owners and dog bite attorneys, we encourage all dog owners to take precautions with their pets by keeping them vaccinated and under close supervision at all times to prevent dog bite accidents.

To assist in keeping pets safe, the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control office is running their annual Uno por Uno program to increase rabies vaccinations among domesticated animals in Arizona (KPHO 10/12/10). The program offers free rabies vaccinations in 12 different areas every year that are in need of increased animal control. Vaccinations will be available at the West Valley Shelter at 2500 S. 27th Ave in Phoenix to dogs and cats at least three months of age from 5-8pm on Wednesday 10/13. The Uno por Uno program also works to increase awareness of dog bite prevention, pet population control, and responsible pet ownership.

The program advises pet owners and the general public to keep all pets current on their vaccinations and always avoid stray or unfamiliar animals. If ever bitten by an animal with rabies, it is important to wash it out as quickly as possible with soap and water and seek medical attention to prevent the virus from spreading or infecting the body.

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Posted In: Dog Bites

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October 11, 2010

Dog Bite Prevention Training in Fountain Hills, Arizona

Every year, 4.8 million people are bit by a dog (American Humane Association 2009). Most of these victims are children, and oftentimes it is by their own family dog. As dog owners and parents ourselves, we try teaching our children about safe animal interaction to avoid dog bite accidents, which can be very physically and emotionally scarring.

On Saturday in Fountain Hills, dog training company, Sit Means Sit, held training for children on safe dog interactions at the Fountain Hills Branch Library (ABC 15 10/9/10). The program taught children what some common dog behaviors really mean, such as yawning or licking its chops typically means the dog is stressed or uncomfortable. If the whites of dogs’ eyes are showing, this is a red flag that the dog is on alert as well. Children are taught to stand “still like a tree” to cause strange dogs to loose interest and move on. Parents are encouraged to teach their children to be calm around dogs and other animals because statistics show about half of all children under 12 will be bitten at some point.

Most children don’t recognize the difference between a playful or an aggressive dog, and sometimes it doesn’t even matter. A playful bite can be just as damaging as an aggressive one, so it is important to exercise caution when interacting with dogs in any capacity.

In Arizona, there is no “first bite free” law; dog owners are not allowed to avoid liability at all. There is a strict statute of limitations concerning dog bite injuries—it is best to file a notice of claim within the first year of the injury because dog owners have strict liability during that time. After a year passes, owners have more defenses to protect themselves. If no claim is filed within the statute of limitations, victims could lose their right to file at all.

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Posted In: Dog Bites

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