Woman seriously injured by Pit Bull • Dog attack in St. Petersburg • Listed in serious condition

PINELLAS COUNTY – According to a report on BayNews 9, law enforcement officials say a dog attacked and seriously injured a woman Thursday afternoon. St. Petersburg police said the dog, which they described as a 100-pound pit bull, attacked a woman as she walked into her backyard.

The woman suffered gashes on her left arm and injuries to her head, neck, right shoulder and right arm and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Officials said she is listed in serious condition.

Source - BayNews9

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DOG BITE CLAIMS UP 8.7% in 2008 - Click link below:

www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2009/09/17/103790.htm

Woman bitten in face by pit bull dog refuses treatment

PANAMA CITY BEACH - A woman who had been bitten in the face by a pit bull dog walked out of a clinic, refusing treatment, when a nurse advised her to report the attack.
On Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Brotherston went to the Panama City Beach address the woman gave when she signed in at the clinic. When she answered the door, he “immediately noticed that (her) nose had a scab on visible as it appeared to be a puncture wound of her left nostril,” Brotherston wrote in an incident report.
The 46-year-old woman said a neighbor’s dog bit her while she was cleaning the dog's injured foot. She said it was her fault the dog bit her. She also said she knew the dog’s shots were up to date because she had taken the dog to the vet and paid for the shots herself.

According to the report, the woman also explained that she didn’t want to report the bite because the same neighbor “had a dog destroyed by Animal Control” when it bit a child several years ago.

Brotherston advised her to go back to the clinic and get medical treatment for her wound, the report said. He contacted Bay County Animal Control about the incident, but was told no report or action would be taken if the victim did not wish to pursue charges.

SOURCE – www.newsherald.com

German Shepherd Dog Bites three-year-old boy in the face

APOPKA -- A 3-year-old boy is recovering from surgery after he was bitten by a dog belonging to his uncle Thursday night. Investigators said the dog, a German Shepherd, was chained to the front of a home, but for some reason went after the boy.

The boy was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he underwent surgery for severe dog bites. The dog was taken to Orange County Animal Services. According to Animal Services, a dog is three times as likely to bite while it is confined on a chain.

Experts said dogs on a chain tend to act more territorial and aggressive.

Source – Central Florida 13

PIT BULL DOG bites 5-year-old child in the face ♦ 911 called ♦ Pinellas County Sheriff and Pinellas County Animal Services respond

MADEIRA BEACH ♦ A 5-year-old boy was attacked by a 65 pound pit bull terrier causing serious injuries. The Pinellas County Sheriff and Pinellas County Animal Services were called to the scene. The dog snapped at the child's face twice, deputies said, before the father was able to get him out of the home.

The boy was taken to All Children’s Hospital for treatment. The dog bit him on the upper lip, sheriff's officials said.

Pinellas County Animal Services took custody of the dog.

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DOG BITE ♦ LIABILITY ♦ WHO PAYS? ♦ Medical Bills ♦ ER for stitches ♦ BAD SCAR ♦ Insurance Claim

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that dogs bite 4.7 million people annually, resulting in 800,000 injuries that require medical attention. Almost half of them are children.

The average cost of a dog-bite insurance claim was $24, 511 in 2007, according to the Insurance Information Institute, (III).

Roughly 39 percent of American households have at least one dog, according to The Humane Society of the United States. According to III, dog bite claims cost insurers about $356.2 million in 2007, up by 10.5 percent from the previous year.

Dog owners in 33 states and the District of Columbia are legally liable for deaths or injuries caused by their dogs. Pennsylvania and Michigan have laws that prohibit insurers from canceling or denying coverage to owners of specific breeds, according to III.

If you or a loved one has been bit by a dog or another domestic animal, call the TRIPP LAW FIRM for an immediate FREE telephone consultation.

Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., and his injury law team are available 24/7 to take your call. DON’T GUESS WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE. CALL NOW (888) 392-LAWS (5297).

Prompt and Aggressive Representation – www.trippfirm.com

NO FEES or NO COSTS if NO RECOVERY.

DOG BITE Ι PIT BULL BOXER Ι NO LEASH Ι ATTACKED BY DOG Ι MANATEE COUNTY Ι TRIPP LAW FIRM - Personal Injury Law

MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A man was found bleeding from several wounds Sunday after being attacked by two dogs. According the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, a man was walking down the street when a pit bull boxer mix and a pit bull attacked him. The man suffered lacerations on his left forearm and left ankle, the sheriff's office said. He also had scratches on his legs, arms and chest. The man was taken to a local hospital. The sheriff's office said the dogs' owner, said she heard screaming, ran outside and saw her dogs across the street. She then pulled her pit bull boxer mix off the man and brought both dogs back to her yard and secured the fence. The dogs were removed by animal control. This is the second animal bite complaint the dogs have been involved in.

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ANIMAL ATTACK - Dog Bite

While in most cases we view dog as man's best friend, a dangerous dog can be anything but. At the TRIPP LAW FIRM we handle cases involving dog bites and animal attacks that have caused serious and devastating injuries to adults and children. Although animal-attack claims most commonly involve dog bites, many other types of domesticated animals, such as ferrets, cats, and even birds, can also bite humans. Even non-domesticated animals, such as large cats ordinarily found in the wild, but owned by some people as pets have been known to attack children and adults. An owner's liability for injuries caused by his or her pet, if any, will vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., is experienced in handling personal injury claims is an excellent source for accurate advice and information if you have been injured in animal attack. The TRIPP LAW FIRM is able to handle animal attack injury cases involving dogs, venomous spiders, snakes, and other dangerous animals.

If you or your child has suffered an animal bite or attack, contact our West Central Florida, law firm today. We handle all animal accident and personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis. That means, we do not take any payment for attorney's fees or costs until we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.

Most municipalities in Florida have leash laws, requiring owners to keep their animals out of the public at large. A dog is presumed to be domesticated unless it is proven otherwise. If a dog is not locked up, however, and it attacks or bites someone, the owner becomes strictly liable for any injury the dog causes. Chows, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, and Akitas can all be extremely dangerous animals and cause severe and lasting injury, scarring, disfigurement, and even death.

We work with our own private investigators, perform in-depth investigations, carefully research applicable law, and exhaust every opportunity for advocacy in pursuit of a fair outcome for our clients. If it is not possible to reach a settlement on your behalf, we will aggressively advocate in litigation. We are committed to providing our clients with the compassionate care, attention, and service they deserve for their comprehensive recovery needs. At the same time, we advocate aggressively on their behalf.

If you or your loved one has been injured in an animal attack, contact Injury Attorney G. Alan Tripp, Jr., at (888) 392-LAWS (5297). Our on-call staff is available 24 hours a day for an immediate telephone consultation.

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DOG BITES

Even the cuddliest, fuzziest, sweetest pup can bite. Most people are bitten by their own dog or one they know. Unwisely, some owners actually promote aggression in their dogs or allow aggression to go unchecked.

From nips to bites to actual attacks, dog bites are a serious problem. Dog bite victims requiring medical attention in the United States number approximately 800,000 annually. Countless more bites go untreated. On average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites.

Who's being bitten?

Statistically, the numbers of recorded dog bites are significantly higher in children than adults. The elderly and home service providers such as mail carriers and meter readers are also high on the list of frequent dog bite victims. CAUTION: Never leave a baby or child alone with a dog.

IF YOU are bitten

If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian to check your dog's vaccination records.

If someone else's dog bit you, first seek medical treatment for the wound. Next, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner's name, if you know it; the color and size of the dog; where you encountered the dog; and, if and where you've seen it before. These details may help animal-control officers locate the dog. In addition, consider asking your physician if post-exposure rabies treatment may be necessary.

Dogs are wonderful companions. By acting responsibly, owners not only reduce the number of dog bites, but also enhance the relationship they have with their dog.

Accordingly, if you have been bitten by a dog, you may be able to file a premises liability claim against the responsible owner of the dog. Recoverable damages could include past and future medical expenses, loss of wages, and other foreseeable damages resulting from the injury. You can also file a personal injury action against the owner of the dog that caused your injury.

CALL THE TRIPP LAW FIRM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS 1 (888) 392-LAWS (5297).