Dog Bite Blog by dog bite expert Dr. Polsky

Pit bull fatality in West Haven Connecticut, October 2011

Richard Polsky — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:49:37 +0000

For many years most dog bite related human fatalities have been inflicted onto children and the elderly by pit bull type dogs. This trend seems to be continuing in 2011, as witnessed by the fatality on a 20-month-old toddler who was sleeping in the upstairs bedroom of her grandmother’s home in West Haven Connecticut. Apparently, according to news reports, her mother was present in the bedroom when the attack happened. The victim was visiting her grandmother, and apparently had been put down for a nap, and dogs managed to find their way into the upstairs bedroom and attack the toddler. News reports are sketchy so it is unclear if the mother attempted to stop the attack, or if she was attacked herself by the dogs. The chief medical examiner ruled an accidental death, although one wonders if meaningful investigation was done regarding the negligence of the grandmother, or if these dogs were dangerous by nature therefore making this tragic incident foreseeable. Posted by RHP

Sensationalized pitbull attack in Glendora,California on October 10, 2011

Richard Polsky — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:45:57 +0000

I was called to the television set to watch a story on a local Los Angeles news television channel reporting an attack by 2 pit bulls on a middle-age man, resting in his hospital bed. The victim described the pit bulls as attacking him viciously, after having escaped from the property where they were kept, leaving multiple severe bites on his torso and extremities. He felt his life was saved by a neighbor who called police, and when the police arrived they shot and killed one of the dogs, and the other dog was disabled after having been intentionally rammed by the police car. Sensational stories like this obviously fuel fear and dislike amongst the public for the pit bull breed. Unfortunately, stories like this demonize the pit bull breed unjustifiably. Granted, many pit bulls, particularly those individuals who are male, and who have not been trained properly, socialize properly, encouraged to play aggressively, etc. require a higher standard of care to maintain public safety. However, this should not imply that all individuals of the pit bull breed are necessarily dangerous by nature. I have rarely seen television news coverage of a vicious attack by Rottweiler dog or German Shepherd dog, and dogs like this easily have the capability of causing severe injury or fatality to a person.

Man bites dog – Assumption of risk does not apply

Richard Polsky — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:30:59 +0000

A recent jury verdict October 7, 2011 in Superior Court in Phoenix Arizona addressed the issue of assumption of risk in a dog bite case. Assumption of risk is a common legal doctrine used by the defense to assign comparative fault to the plaintiff. The logic behind the theory is that if one chooses to intervene in a dog fight, then one assumes the risk of being bitten. However, in this case, the jury decided that is was not only reasonable for the plaintiff to intervene to stop an attack on his dog, but also the method in which he used to stop the attack (actually biting the dog in the neck) was reasonable and non-provocative. Read more about this interesting case at www.dogexpert.com/Dog bite cases/Man bites dog in Arizona.html Posted by RHP