Dog Bites More Common for Younger Children
A recent study found that young children may be the most vulnerable to dog bites when they are left alone, even with the family dog, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Researchers at the University of Colorado studied 537 children (up to age 18) who were treated for dog bites at a Denver children’s hospital. The dog bites occurred between 2003 and 2008. In about 68 percent of the cases, children under age 5 were the ones bitten by dogs. Surprisingly, almost all of the children knew the dogs that bit them – half were the family pets, and almost all of the rest belonged to neighbors, friends, or relatives.
When we think of dogs attacking children, we usually think of dangerous breeds of dogs. However, the most common breeds in the study that bit were mixed breeds, followed by labs, Rottweilers and German shepherds. Pitt bulls aren’t allowed in Denver and weren’t a part of the study. The dog bite attacks were provoked in about half of the cases, usually by playing too rough or surprising the animal. The dog bites also frequently occurred when the child was left alone with the dog. Researchers concluded that although most dog owners think of their dogs as harmless, that’s not always true. Almost any type of dog can bite under the right set of circumstances.
Have you or a loved one been the victim of a dog bite in Missouri? If so, you may have a cause of action against the dog’s owner. Contact the experienced St. Louis dog bite attorneys at Page Law, LLC today at 314-488-2433 for a free consultation on your case.
