A new report from businessweek.com shows that dog bite claims are at an all time high. Dog bite claims are up six percent in the last year, indicating a trend of increasingly violent dogs and potentially negligent pet owners.
Who is most likely to be the victim of a dog bite? According to the Center for Disease Control, boys ages five through nine are the most commonly attacked group. On average, over 4.5 million people are bitten per year, but only about 17,000 claims were filed in the past year.
Insurance companies are taking steps to make sure their policies reflect damage caused by dogs. Some have even started charging higher premiums for certain types of dog breeds. Ultimately, as these insurance companies are recognizing, the owners of these dogs need to be held responsible for the behavior of their pets. Many dog owners are irresponsible in the way they handle their dogs in public. Whether they’re allowing their pup to roam leash free in a park or playing an aggressive game of tug of war around a group of strangers, the onus is on the owner to protect their dog from hurting others.
Even man’s best friend can become aggressive around strangers and other animals. Encourage your children to stay away from dogs off of their leash, and never attempt to pet a stranger’s dog without seeking permission first. If you’ve been attacked by a dog, seek medical attention immediately and consider seeking the advice of a Virginia dog bite attorney.
