While most dogs live up to their reputation as “man’s best friend,” it is important to remember that some dogs do pose a danger to people. Dogs who have been bred and trained for the purposes of fighting or guarding can be especially vicious animals. According to the California Department of Public Health, nearly 80 percent of all the animal bite injuries that took place in California between 2006 and 2010 were caused by domestic dogs. Across the country, about 750,000 dog bite victims require medical care each year. When a dog bites another person because the owner of the dog was negligent, the owner can be held liable for any damages caused by the bite.

Young Girl Brutally Mauled by Akita While Visiting Kennel

Recently, a 7-year-old girl was severely injured after she was attacked by a dog at a nonprofit Akita rescue kennel in Romoland, California. The attack was so brutal that the young girl needed an astounding 1,000 stitches and three hours of surgery. Because the bites were primarily to her face, it is possible that the girl will be permanently disfigured as a result of the bites. Disturbingly, the dog was listed on the nonprofit’s Facebook page as looking for “a kid he can play with.”

What makes this story even worse is that this attack is not the first one which has occurred at the kennel. In fact, animal service officers discovered that five other serious dog bite incidents involving dogs from this kennel have occurred since 2013. Because of the severity of this most recent attack, law enforcement officers are seeking a destruction order for the Akita who mauled the young girl. 

Dog bites have the potential to cause a significant amount of damage. Even in with small dogs, a well-placed attack can cause life-long injury, disfigurement, or even death. In incidents where the victim is a child, especially those under the age of five years, the effects are often especially heinous. The laws surrounding these vicious canine attacks are unique to this age group.

Higher Risk Factor in Children

Children are more likely to sustain a bite from an animal than an adult. Dog owners should be aware of their dog’s behavior, from their body language to history. Additionally, with strangers, these owners should always use extra caution upon the first few introductions.

Some laws may appear extraneous and unnecessary. However, for someone to set forth the effort to create a new law, someone, somewhere must have needed a definitive legal option. To many, California leash laws seem arbitrary, especially to those who have well-trained canines that listen and obey consistently. However, these laws are far from useless as they set out to protect innocent individuals from unprovoked dog bites.

Santa Clara County Leash Laws

Just like humans, canine animals do have “bad days”. They do experience shifts in mood and what normally would not bother them may be enough to make them lash out if the conditions are right, explaining why leashing is essential. The ordinances of Santa Clara County define leash laws. The Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) says that all canines require a leash if they are to be off of the private property of the owner, including land and vehicle. There are some areas in which a dog is not allowed at all, regardless of a leash, such as a city park. There are parameters for securing a dog. Some specifics include:

Dog bites can range anywhere between virtually harmless to life-altering. Facial dog bites have the potential to be more traumatic than other areas on the body. Not only are the wounds more visible than other areas of the body, there is also the possibility of a longer recovery time and even permanent damage. If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack that resulted in facial wounds, it is imperative that you follow key steps to increase the likelihood of recovering the full damages at trial or through a settlment.

Why Are Facial Dog Bites More Traumatic?

When a dog does choose to bite a human, nearly three times out of four they will bite an extremity. Statistics have shown that approximately 71% of dog bites result in injuries to the arms, legs, hands or feet of a human. This may be true for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that our survival instinct is to reach out to protect ourselves from danger, thereby giving the animal something else to grab besides our face or neck. However, if you consider the features of an arm versus all of the features of a face, you will be able to recognize several delicate areas that are essential to daily activities. Consider for a moment the following senses that would all be affected should a sensory organ become damaged:

Whether you are a dog owner yourself, have been a victim of a dog bite, or know someone who has had a close call with a dog aggression-related injury, familiarizing yourself with Santa Clara County’s stance on dog safety laws can help you protect your best interests and help keep your neighbors safe.

Existing Dog Safety Laws and Modifications

For years now, Santa Clara County has been investigating ways to further enhance its laws on dangerous dog bites in an effort to place stricter responsibility on owners of potentially dangerous dogs. Back in 2011, the County announced a Board action aimed at expanding the existing policies that are in place to protect residents from harmful injuries. The following new laws were announced:

All animals have a tendency to be unpredictable, no matter how well trained or gentle natured. This remains true for dogs, which of course are one of the top companions chosen to live in the homes of their human counterparts. Unfortunately, dogs do have it in their nature to bite for several different reasons. This leads to thousands of injury claims annually. How do we avoid such incidents from happening? If they do happen, how should dog bites be dealt with medically and legally?

Why Do Dogs Bite?

If you have seen a premium dog food commercial within the last couple of years, you may have likely heard that dogs are related to wolves. This is actually very true. Furthermore, although they have been domesticated, there is still the wild animal instinct inside, especially under extreme circumstances. Some reasons a canine may strike out are: