JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

During a four-year period, research was done on 111 cases of dog bites involving children. The medical journal Injury Prevention revealed that 103 dogs were involved, and of these dogs, 41 breeds were represented. There were several notable animal-behavior patterns observed. The dogs displayed one or more of these patterns in the cases studied:

• Territorial issues
• Anxiety-related behavior
• Dealing with a medical issue

Researchers looked at each one of these behaviors, and they suggested that the root of the dog’s aggressive reactions were territorial in nature. Territorial behavior is related to what an animal believes are their possessions. Food, toys, puppies, their backyards, and even people can fall under what they consider to be possessions. Children under six years of age were more likely to be attacked because the dog felt that the child was about to take their food or a toy. Older children were bitten when the animal’s territory was intruded upon. In the territorial attacks, the children were mostly unknown to the dog.

Signs of anxiety were exhibited in three-fourths of the dogs studied. The dog’s uneasiness was due to separation distress, sudden loud noises, as well as unexpected fast movements by children.  If the animal was in pain for an injury or sickness, they were more inclined to bite. Children may not be able to see the signs of a dog in pain. The child’s rough play may be the reason that the dog became aggressive. Others studies have been conducted and found that loud and aggressive actions by boys five to nine years of age cause a dog to bite five times more often than any other group. Dogs become increasingly stimulated as the children’s play increases in speed and volume.

The personal injury attorneys at MMK Law are experienced in dog bite litigation and are standing by to answer any questions that you may have concerning a dog bite incident. You can reach our Philadelphia and Allentown offices at 215-545-1870 and 610-366-1414 to arrange a free consultation.