Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

According to a report released by DogsBite.org, there were 373 incidents in the US last year involving citizens and police shooting a pit bull in order to stop or prevent a dog attack. 23 of these shooting incidents occurred in Illinois, with 7 of them taking place in Chicago.

Nationally, 319 pit bulls died from the 626 bullets that were fired. 148 people sustained dog bite injuries. 3 of the dog bite injuries were serious enough to require amputations. 6 of the dog bite victims died.

In Lake County, Will County, DuPage County, and Cook County, our Chicago dog bite lawyers are committed to making sure that our clients that are injured in Illinois dog attacks receive the compensation that they are owed. Even if this is the first time a dog has attacked someone, an Illinois dog owner can still be held liable.

Why dogs might attack a person:
• To “protect” itself
• To "protect" its territory or the dog owner’s home
• The animal is in pain
• As an act of self-defense
• To assert dominance
• To retaliate against abusive behavior

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, factors that are linked to dog bites include:
• Poor socialization
• The dog breed and the characteristics of the dog’s parents
• The victim’s behavior toward the dog prior to the attack
• Lack of training
• The dog’s health

Unfortunately, a Chicago dog mauling incident can result in catastrophic injuries for the victim. These injuries may require multiple surgeries and the victim may suffer from emotional trauma for life. An experienced Chicago dog bite law firm can help you explore your legal options.

Dogsbite.org releases report: US police and citizens shootings of pit bulls 2008, PR-USA.net

Read the Report, Dogsbite.Org, June 1, 2009 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Dog Bite Prevention, CDC

Top Ten (10) Most Dangerous Dog Breeds, PetsDo.com

DogsBite.org

In Chicago’s Highland Park, officials have agreed to hold off on making a decision about a proposal to ban pit bulls from the city until they do further research. The proposal had met with resistance from pit bull advocates.

Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky put forth the prohibition proposal after a teenage girl had to have hundreds of stitches sewn into her face and shoulder after a pit bull attacked her.

The dog bite victim, 14, was petting Bam Bam, a 9-year-old male pit bull earlier this month when the pet attacked the girl. Following the Chicago dog bite incident, Bam Bam was euthanized. The pit bull's owner was cited for failing to vaccinate the dog for rabies and not having a dog license. Bam Bam was on a leash when the Highland Park dog attack happened.

Legislation targeting specific breeds has met with resistance from orgaizations such as the American Kennel Club and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Opponents of such legislation say that the dog owners, not a specific breed, should be punished.

Dog Bite Prevention Week
Throughout the United States, May 17 - 23, 2009 is dog bite prevention week, which is designed to promote awareness among dog owners and people that are around dogs so that dog attacks don't happen.

Dog Bite Facts:
• Approximately 4.5 million dog bite injurires occur annually.
• 885,000 of these dog bite victims will need to see a doctor for their injuries.
• 31,000 dog bite victims had to undergo reconstructive surgery in 2006 to heal their dog bite injuries.
• The age group at highest risk of becoming a dog bite victim is children, ages 5 to 9.

Some Steps Illinois Dog Owners Can Take to Prevent Dog Attacks or Dog Maulings:
• Leash your dog.
• Socialize your pet.
• Train your dog.
• Teach your dog how to play in a non-aggressive manner.
• Teach your dog how to obey you.
• Don’t leave your dog unsupervised when children are around.
• If your dog is an aggressive or dangerous dog, keep him or her away from others or properly restrain your pet so no one gets hurt.

You or your child may be entitled to Illinois personal recovery for a Chicago dog attack incident.

Highland Park waits on pit bull ban, Chicago Tribune, May 15, 2009

Dog Bite Prevention, CDC

Related Web Resources:
Tips to Prevent Dog Bites, American Kennel Club

City of Highland Park, Illinois

Continue reading "Chicago Dog Bites and Dog Maulings: Highland Park Waits to Decide on Proposal to Ban Pit Bulls" »

In Southwest Chicago, 4-year-old Alex Angulo died on Sunday after a Rottweiler in his foster family’s backyard attacked him. His dog mauling death is raising concerns over whether child welfare officials did enough to make sure that he would be safe at a home that also housed a poodle and two Rottweilers.

According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Alex was supposed to be supervised anytime he was with the dogs. Cook County Public Guardian Robert Harris, however, says this precaution was obviously not enough and that the boy shouldn’t have been allowed to stay at the home.

Chicago police are trying to determine what foster family members were doing when the dog attack happened. One of his caregivers, who had been using a snowblower in a back alley, didn’t find Alex until after he was mauled. The three dogs were put to sleep.

Alex has been a foster child since he was an infant. He has lived in numerous homes over the years. In December, a judge found that his latest home wasn’t the best fit for him because of the foster mother’s advanced age.

This isn’t the only Illinois dog attack to occur this year. In Joliet, two sisters, 5 and 10, were injured on January 6 when a Rottweiler mauled them after the animal got out of its cage.

Dog Attacks
According to Animal People, 63 people died from Rottweiler attacks between 1982 and 2007. Illinois law holds dog owners liable for dog attacks even if there was no way of knowing that a pet would injure others. Dog bites can lead to puncture wounds, facial disfigurements, muscle damage, internal injuries, mental anguish, and emotional trauma.

New life awaited boy killed by dog, Chicago Tribune, January 11, 2009

2 sisters remain hospitalized after dog mauling in Joliet, Chicago Tribune, January 8, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Dog Bites, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

You or your may be entitled to Illinois personal injury compensation from a negligent dog owner.

Continue reading "4-Year-Old Killed in Chicago Dog Mauling Accident" »