Owning a pet is a unique experience that brings joy to a lot of families in Minnesota. There are a lot of responsibilities that come along with pet ownership too, including properly socializing and supervising pets around other people and animals. When owners fail to take these critical steps, it is not uncommon for someone to get hurt. Dog bites can cause serious and even long–term injuries for some victims.
Dogs cause millions of injuries
In the United States, dogs bite approximately 4.5 million people each and every year. Of these millions of victims, around 800,000 ultimately have to seek medical attention for their injuries. Around half of those who need medical treatment are children.
Most dog bites are preventable, and all pet owners should be taking concrete steps to prevent bites and related injuries. One of the most important and perhaps easiest safety steps is to simply socialize one’s dog, making sure that he or she is comfortable both inside the home and out in the rest of the world. Since many dog bite victims are children, socializing dogs with children is especially important. Other preventative measures include:
- Spaying or neutering dogs
- Using positive reinforcement
- Avoiding tethering
- Never letting dogs roam freely
Many victims of dog bites require extensive medical treatment, but trauma often goes far beyond physical injuries. The emotional trauma of being attacked by a dog can last a lifetime. Victims in Minnesota who need help addressing their damages — including medical bills — frequently choose to turn toward personal injury lawsuits for compensation.
