A bite from any dog can cause significant injuries or lead to serious infections. When teaching your children how to behave around dogs, however, you may need to educate them on identifying and avoiding pit bulls because of their bad reputation. In fact, when your children are very young, they may need to keep a distance from any dogs they do not know — including the cute little dogs that seem like fuzzy toys.
Without a doubt, 80-lb. pit bull bites are likely to inflict greater injury than bites from four-lb. Chihuahuas. Still, according to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), pit bulls do not deserve their reputation for viciousness and unpredictability, which is largely caused by misconceptions such as the following:
- MYTH: Pit bull bites are particularly dangerous because their jaws lock.
Like most dogs, pit bulls like to grab and shake their prey. They may not want to let go, but their jaws do not lock.
- MYTH: Once a pit bull bites another dog, people are the next victims.
Dog-aggression is distinct from people-aggression. In fact, the ASPCA asserts that many fighting dogs are highly trustworthy with people.
- MYTH: Friendly pit bulls become vicious at a certain age.
Any dog that receives insufficient training — or even mistreatment — can suddenly become dangerous. Unfortunately, pit bull owners often acquire these dogs for the wrong reasons, subjecting them to abuse.
Striking a balance between teaching your child to recognize dangerous dog behavior while not fearing all dogs can be challenging. However, California law recognizes that children are not at fault even if they tease a dog that bites them. If you or your child receives a serious dog bite, get medical attention right away. Then call an experienced California dog bite attorney who can assess your legal options at no charge.
At Young Wooldridge, LLP, we want our clients to remain safe from dog bites or any type of personal injury. However, when negligent dog owners cause injuries, we offer the swift, responsive assistance you need to pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us to learn how we can help.
