Lawyers Blog

Authorities say a pair of bulldogs attacked five children until the oldest fought off the dogs with a shovel.

The dogs were euthanized after Monday’s attack. Their owners face a fine of up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail.

The dogs attacked a 14-year-old boy, his three siblings, ages 9 to 12, and a 10-year-old relative.

Police believe the dogs broke out of their yard and approached the younger children, who were playing outside their nearby home. When the children ran inside, the dogs followed.

The 14-year-old boy was inside when the attack began and fought off the dogs with a shovel. He remains hospitalized but hopes to be home by Christmas. The other children have been treated and released from the hospital.

According to the TV news, a woman tried to keep it from happening, she says she called the pound as recently as Saturday to warn animal control two of her neighbors dogs were loose.

“I’ve called the pound at least ten times,” she said.

The dogs escaped from their backyard on Thursday morning, attacking an elderly neighbor just before noon.

“It was a little more than your normal dog bite I guess” Director of Animal Services  said.

The woman tried to fight the dogs off with a gardening tool. She was on her own property when the attack happened.

“It’s awful,” she said about the thought of her neighbor being mauled by two dogs.

She said the dogs left a large laceration on her leg. The woman was treated at the hospital while the dogs were quarantined at the Animal Shelter.

There are reports of an average of 400 dog bites each year.

If you have suffered a dog bite injury, it is first off, important to identify the animal that bit you, because if it is a stray and you cannot identify it, you’re facing the possibility of having to submit to treatment for rabies, which can be painful.

Also, if you were attacked by a dog or any wild animal being kept by a person, you are entitled to receive financial compensation from the animal’s owner, and you may need that compensation to pay your medical bills, reimburse you for lost income, pay for cosmetic surgery in the future, and help you overcome the pain and suffering from your injuries. Under the personal injury statute of limitations you have 2 years to file a claim for your dog bite injuries. If you think you do have claim you should contact a dog bite injury lawyer, many of which offer free consultations.