Why do Dogs Bite and What Can Be Done to Prevent It? There are many reasons why dogs bite. Some bite out of fear, in an attempt to protect their territory or to establish their dominance over the person bitten. Some owners mistakenly teach their dogs that biting is an acceptable form of play behavior, and every year a number of newborn infants die when they are bitten by dogs that see them as “prey”.

There are several common sense methods of preventing dog bites, but sometimes there is no way to avoid an attack. If you are attacked, first try to block the attack with an object like a jacket or backpack. If you fall or are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball, protect your face by covering your head and neck.

Is the Owner of the Dog Liable? Iowa Code § 351.28 provides that the owner of a dog “shall be liable to a injured party for all damages done by the dog…attacking or attempting to bite a person, except when the party damaged is doing an unlawful act” (for example someone breaking into a home is not allowed to recover if he/she is bitten or attacked by a dog). This is a lower standard than other personal injury cases where you have to prove negligence, recklessness, etc.

What Damages are Available? Medical Expenses: The cost of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred and that are reasonably certain to be incurred in the future because of your injury, are recoverable. These expenses include past (already-incurred) medical expenses and also future medical expenses, which may be caused by the original injury or that result from an increased susceptibility to future injury. All forms of care and treatment, whether hospital, medical, therapy, nursing, diagnostic testing, surgery, physical rehabilitation or pain management are included. You can recover the full value of your medical expenses from the responsible party even if your health insurer has paid all or part of your bills.

Lost Wages (Loss of Earnings): You are also entitled to recover your lost wages (a/k/a loss of earnings) caused by your injuries. Wages, commissions, bonuses and all other earnings and fringe benefits are recoverable. You can recover the full value of your lost wages even if your employer or disability insurance has paid all or part of them.

Pain and Suffering: Ordinarily, the most “valuable” element of your bodily injury claim is the right to compensation for physical pain and mental anguish you have suffered and will endure in the future because of your injury. These general damages are in addition to and may be far more than the amount of your lost earnings and medical expenses.

Loss of Full Mind and Body: This part of your bodily injury claim is designed to reimburse you for any loss of function or use of your body or mind. These damages are in addition to your other damages described above.

Disfigurement: If the injury causes scarring or other unsightly marks, you are entitled to recover for the disfigurement and humiliation or embarrassment associated with the disfigurement.

This article contains general statements, is not intended as legal advice or legal opinions and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or rely upon the information in this article without seeking the advice of an attorney because changes in the law occur frequently and you should consult with an attorney with respect to your particular case.

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Trent Consultants Korea Dog Care: Young children are especially vulnerable to severe dog bites in the head and neck areas, and there is a correlation between cases of dog bites and rising temperatures, according to new research published in the March 2009 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

In an evaluation of 84 cases of dog bites in children over an eight-year period, the authors found that most injuries were caused by family pets (27%), with a high frequency of injuries occurring during the summer months. While the reason for this is unknown, the authors suggest it may be because of children spending time outdoors playing with dogs in the warmer temperatures, or due to a general increase in the irritability of dogs during the warmer months.

The most common sites of bites to the head and neck were the cheeks (34%), lips (21%), and nose and ears (both 8%). Sixty-four percent suffered wounds in more than one location, with the average wound size 7.15 cm. Pit bulls were the breed most commonly cited as the cause for the attack.

The authors believe that by implementing more accurate and timely reporting of dog bites to local health authorities, medical professionals can be educated on how to identify trends and develop prevention strategies. The authors recommend a system for uniform data collection to include the circumstances of the dog bite (signs of provocation, adequacy of child supervision, breed of dog, sex of animal, spay/neuter status, history of prior aggression of the dog, dog restraint, time of event, patients previous histories of dog bites, length of dog ownership, location where dog bite injury occurred, disposition of dog afterwards, and vaccination profile rabies/tetanus). Furthermore, families should be made aware of the increased likelihood of dog bite injuries during the summer months.

It is estimated that 1 percent of all emergency room visits can be attributed to dog bite injuries, including 44,000 annual cases of facial injuries in the United States alone. Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery

Trent Consultants Dog Care and Training is all about helping pet owners enhance their relationships with their pets. Our professional pet-care services includes boarding, grooming, training, now available in Korea. When you’re at work, your dog can be playing and getting the attention he needs at Trent Consultants. Dogs that come for day care have opportunities to play throughout the day in one of our three fenced outdoor play areas with our doggie playgroups. You can visit us at www.trentconsultant.com. Email us info@trentconsultant.com.

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