Adoption 101: The Legal Fundamentals

5 Tips For Preventing Dog Bites

2 December 2015

Brayden Miles

If you own a dog, you should prevent your pet from biting others who may enter your property. Regardless if your pet has an aggressive or passive personality, it's ideal to be aware of some methods that will decrease the possibility of a dog bite injury. Knowing specific tips to assist you in doing so are sure to come handy for any pet owner.

Tip #1: Train your dog

One of the most effective ways to help your pet avoid unwanted behavior is by training your dog. By teaching your dog to be more sociable and to interact well with others who visit your home, this may prevent some injuries from happening.

Tip #2: Monitor your dog around kids

Many dog bite injuries happen to children. You will want to be extra diligent to monitor the behavior of your pet around young kids.

Studies indicate that children from ages 5-9 have been injured by dogs the most frequently according to the American Veterinary Association.

Tip #3: Post warning signs

It's ideal to put up warning signs on and around your property that you have a dog. This can alert any people who are approaching your home to do so with caution.

This could particularly benefit postal carriers who may frequent your home daily to bring your mail. Studies show that dog bite injuries have occurred to 5,879 mail carriers in 2012 alone.

Tip #4: Get your dog vaccinated

Be sure to take your dog to the vet and get a rabies shot. Rabies is a serious disease that is carried by some animals, and it is caused by a virus. It's important that your pet has this shot in the event another individual is bitten.

Additionally, if a legal action were taken against you because of your dog biting another person, having all vaccinations up-to-date could help your case.

Tip #5: Keep your dog contained

One effective way to prevent your dog from biting others is by putting up a fence in your backyard. This will give your pet a place to play and will help reduce the possibility of dog bite injuries to any guests you may have.

Being a dog owner does come with some responsibilities, and working to ensure your dog doesn't injure others is one of these. However, if you're faced with a legal action being filed against you because of a serious bite, be sure to rely on the expertise of a personal injury attorney to legally advise you. Contact a law firm like Hoffman, Hamer & Associates, PLLC to learn more.

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About Me

If you've decided that you want to adopt a child, the first thing you should do is reach out to a family law attorney. While it may not seem logical to get an attorney involved from the start, it's important that you protect yourself legally from the beginning. After making the decision to adopt, I have been through the process several times. I created this site to help other adoptive parents understand what they can expect from the entire process, including the legal support you're likely to need. I hope this information helps you feel more confident in this major life decision.