Even here in Canada hospitals are required by law to report dog bites, I know I got bitten. Minor bites can be treated at your GP surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit. The police do not have the power to enforce a control order or prosecute the owner. The healthcare professional treating you may: When you return home, watch out for signs of a possible infection. Most animal bites are caused by dogs. * Indicates required fields. In Pennsylvania, anyone who is bitten by a dog should report it to the local police. While hospital admissions for injuries caused by dogs are up 7 6 per cent in the last ten years, the actual number of dog bites requiring hospital treatment is relatively low compared to the approximate 10 million dogs living in British households. Although you may be more worried about bites from wild and stray animals, any animal has the potential to bite. Do not delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear. However, animal bites (particularly dog bites) that occur abroad have a risk of rabies. The reason for reporting a dog bite is to create documentation should a dog exhibit dangerous behavior. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. General Information. You can report a dangerous dog to your council’s dog warden service.. You can also report dog fouling to your local council. When to See a Doctor for a Dog Bite. The history is usually obvious; clinically there is cellulitis with associated lymphangitis. But an animal is more likely to bite if it's been disturbed, feels threatened or gets overexcited. Although strays or other strange dogs can bite, most of the time people are actually bitten by a dog they know, which could be a friend's dog or even the family pet. Of course, nobody wants to live with an aggressive dog, or risk their pet dog biting a member of the family, let alone a stranger and dog bites can often be avoided if the correct management techniques and appropriate supervision are put in place. Do not rely on the report that the hospital personnel may or may not have made. We're not around right now. It should be pointed out that while every possible care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is for information purposes only and cannot be regarded as legal advice. Since new amendments were introduced in 2014 to the Dangerous Dog’s Act 1991, it is now an offence for a person’s dog to be dangerously out of control on private. Unfortunately, accidents can happen with these loveable creatures and dilemmas arise when dogs bite other dogs or when dogs bite adults or children. When abroad, take seriously even the tiniest of dog bites, or a lick from a dog over a cut or wound. The advice below may help reduce the chances of being bitten: It's also a good idea to avoid contact with any wild or stray animals, particularly while travelling abroad, as they can be aggressive and there's a chance they could carry serious infections, such as rabies. Consult with the owner's veterinarian. vet/local authority) can order that the dog be lawfully destroyed. You may know that doctors are required to report dog bites, but your doctor may decide to skip a step, which is why it is imperative that you have a dog bite attorney … In public places it is wise not to allow your dog to run around off lead, running up to people and other dogs, barking or jumping up as you could be accused of having a ‘dangerously out of control dog’. Dog bite laws vary by state and often are confusing combinations of the "one bite" rule and county ordinances, state law, and case law. An important point to note is that children are the most likely people to be bitten by a dog and the most likely culprit is the household pet. Report an Animal Bite. These infections are rarely serious if treated quickly, but occasionally they can spread to the blood or other parts of the body. Victims of dog bites should always report the situation to the proper authorities, because it documents the case, as well as researches the health of the dog, if possible. Do you accept these cookies and the processing of personal data involved? Typically, the hand is injuried during a defensive motion. However, since this is the UK’s most popular breed of pet dog, then it follows that there is more likelihood of Labradors being responsible for a high percentage of dog bites. Depending on the circumstances, the dog may end up on the "violent dog list". Provide the doctor with all information and a copy of the police report, if one is available. Absolutely. The law relating to dog bite claims is governed primarily by the Animals Act 1971. It is estimated that in 2015 in the UK, there were some seven thousand admissions into hospital for dog bites and strikes each year and the figures were predicted to rise further. All personal information you include in this form is confidential. Alarmingly, over the last ten years there have been 21 fatalities which have included 13 children or babies. They can also happen during contact sports, vigorous sex, domestic violence or sexual assault, and fits (seizures). If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound. Dog Bite Law: The most trusted dog bite law website on the Internet is DogBiteLaw.com by attorney Kenneth Phillips. If your dog bites someone and you notify your insurance agent right away, he can advise you of any policy-related time limitations. Rushed through Parliament following a number of high profile dog bite related deaths. In other words, their reports are used for the purpose of counting the number of dog bites, keeping track of possible outbreaks of … In Delaware, dog bites are reported to the Division of Public Health while in New Jersey dog bites are reported to the police and local animal control agencies. UK Hospital Episode Statistics 2014-2015 showed that: Over 4,100 people were admitted for a dog bite For particularly severe bites, visit your local A&E department. Even if it doesn’t appear to break the skin. Whilst we don't think the Dangerous Dogs Act (particularly Section 1 which applies breed-specific legislation) is effective in reducing dog bites, we do believe that all dog owners should be responsible for their dogs behaviour around people, other dogs and other animals. The dog bit the face because that was the part closest to it, it did not leap six feet in the air to bite your husband's face (Uncle Matty is a wee bit behind the times), bypassing hands and feet in the process, it is not significant that the dog bit your husband's face in terms of the dog's behaviour (but is likely significant to your husband! Serious infections such as tetanus and rabies are extremely rare in the UK, but it's important to get serious bites looked at as treatment to prevent these infections may be recommended. But you don’t have to do it alone. Many bites are actually caused by a person's own pet or an animal belonging to a friend or neighbour. In most areas you do legally have to report the bite, and legally they have to report it and your dog could be seized and labeled as an aggressive animal or … To get more information about these cookies and the processing of your personal data press ‘more information’. Dogs and Facemasks – Is Your Dog Worried. 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