According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year and over 800,000 of these victims receive medical attention for dog bites.
Dog bite or dog attack injuries frequently lead to serious injuries that must be repaired surgically and sometimes lead to permanent physical handicaps.
The Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that 17% of all dog-related injuries are sufficiently serious to warrant medical attention. Unfortunately, some pets continue to be loose or allowed to be near people they aren’t familiar with, making dog bite incidents more likely.
Despite this reality, it’s important to remember that dog owners are responsible for their animal’s behavior on and off their own property, and liable for any damages caused as a result of that behavior.
Owners are also completely responsible for the actions of unleashed dogs in areas where restraint is required. If it is determined that a dog is abnormally violent, possibly because it has been abused by its owner or bred for violence, then the owner can face serious charges, up to, and including, jail time.