Dog bites can often be a painful affair for everyone involved. This is especially true when children are the victims. Dog bites can cause significant trauma for children that lasts a lifetime. If your child has been the victim of a dog bite, you need the counsel of an experienced dog bite injury attorney.
As a parent, you want to be able to protect your child from all harm. Whether your child has been a victim of a dog bite or not, it is certainly worth your time to sit down and discuss safety when it comes to dealing with strange dogs.
How Can I Protect My Children from Dog Bites?
The best way for a parent to teach their children how to be safe around dogs is to educate them about the role of dogs and people. Explain to them about how people relate to dogs and show them how to interact with them in a safe and gentle manner.
Here are some tips from dog experts on how to interact with strange dogs:
- Teach proper defense: Make sure to teach your children what to do if a dog is aggressive towards them. Show them how to walk away confidently or to stand still and quiet if a dog is close by. If they happen to be knocked down, teach them how to protect their head and neck if necessary.
- Show children how to interact: You will want to teach your children how to properly play with a dog, and how to avoid scaring a dog with loud noises or sudden movements. It can be tricky for some kids to read the body language of a dog, so show them how they should handle a dog as they learn to understand the individual behaviors of each dog.
- Give the dog space: It is important to make sure a dog has a place to go where they are undisturbed. Dogs who are always pestered or cornered might become agitated and aggressive. Teaching your child when to leave the dog alone can be a lifesaver.
- Be careful about unknown dogs: It might be tempting to go pet another dog, but you should teach your kids to ask before approaching. If the owner is present, simply stopping and asking if the dog is friendly towards children can prevent unfortunate interactions. If a dog is wandering unsupervised, advise your children to stay away. You should report stray dogs to animal control.
Even if dogs are on a leash or secured, they might not like strangers. Even if they seem friendly, it is important to teach children how to ask for permission to pet a dog.
Texas law provides for criminal liability in the aftermath of a bite. If a dog is classified as dangerous under Texas law, or is not properly secured in certain situations, and makes an unprovoked attack that causes serious injury or death, then the owner could be convicted of a criminal offense.
If you or someone you love has been injured from a dog bite, contact Ben Bronston & Associates today at 361.LAWYERS (361-529-9377) for a free consultation.
