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February 02, 2015 | Firm News
Alabama Dog Bite Lawyer
Did you ever wonder why some dogs will do certain tricks with very little training while others it seems will never get it? Throw a tennis ball as far as you can and your Labrador Retriever will gleefully sprint after it and retrieve it, but if you throw the same tennis ball a Standard Poodle will likely just stand there and look at you with that “now why the heck would you do that” stare. If you grab the arm of someone who is walking his Rottweiler you’ll likely get a vicious bite on the leg. Do the same to someone walking an Irish Setter and the dog is likely to run away, glad to finally be free. It’s called instinctive breeding and certain dogs can be counted on to perform certain tasks such as hunting on land or water (Spaniels and Labs), ferreting out small game from underground tunnels (Beagle/Chihuahuas), or personal protection (Rottweilers, German Shepherds). Other dogs like the Pit Bull however, have been bred to fight and no matter how tame or cute a Pit Bull may seem, it is in their nature to fight to the death.
In order to be safe when in the presence of dangerous dogs, you need to be aware of the dog’s nature and breeding, and that some are bred to bite in order to defend their master or territory. There are three of four breeds of dogs that in total account for over 75% of all dog bite-related fatalities in the United States. The three breeds of dogs that will bite you instinctively for various reasons are Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Huskies. While not included in this essay, German Shepherds are a close fourth behind Huskies in dog bite-related fatalities at 3.6%. German Shepherds are the dog of choice for police work because of their high intelligence, agility and aggressiveness .
Pit Bulls are an aggressive and highly defensive breed of dog. They are far and away responsible for the most dog bite-related fatalities in the US. According to http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/8-year-dog-bite-fatality-chart-dogsbiteorg.pdf, in the 8-year period from 2005 to 2013, pit bulls killed 176 Americans and accounted for 62% of the total recorded deaths (283). While only 6% of the US dog population, Pit Bulls caused 78% (25) of the 32 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities that occurred in 2013.
The second most deadly breed of dog is the Rottweiler. From 2005 to 2013, Rottweilers were responsible for 32 fatalities. For the most part, “Rotties” are passive and attentive, but know that they are prone to aggressive outbursts when they think their owners are being threatened. Rottweilers are guard dogs and should be treated as such.
The Husky was responsible for 4% of dog bite-related fatalities from 2005 to 2013. Huskies are bred to pull sleds and work as part of a dog team and were rarely thought of until recently to be docile enough to be suitable to be a family pet. They have been bred to interact with other dogs, not humans. They are very powerful and if they do attack they are strong enough to harm or kill its victim.
Have you or a loved one been bitten by a neighbor’s dog in Decatur or Huntsville, Alabama? Are the bills piling up, and the insurance company is giving you the run around? Dog bites often leave serious and permanent physical and psychological scars. When you have been seriously injured by a dog bite, you need to call the attorney serious dog bite victims call when they have been bitten. Randy W. Ferguson is Decatur and Huntsville’s premier dog bite injury lawyer. We offer no obligation, FREE CONSULTATIONS. We also have a LOWEST FEE GUARANTEE. Home and hospital visits are available if you are unable to come to our Huntsville or Decatur office. Call 256-534-3435 or 256-350-7200. We are here to help.