The Huffington Post (and countless other news groups) has been featuring an incredible story of Jeremy, a four year old boy living in Bakersfield, CA, who was bitten by a dog, saved by his cat, rescued by his mother—and the whole thing was caught on home surveillance cameras. While not everyone has a super-cat and is as lucky as Jeremy, who was fine after being taken to the ER, it’s important to know the proper steps to take if you or a loved one has suffered a dog bite.
Preventing Dog Attacks
Unfortunately, the facts surrounding dog attacks are unfavorable. In most recorded dog attacks, the animal is actually connected in some way to the family. Even worse, most attacks happen to young children under the age of ten. This means that there is only so much you can do to prevent an attack. The fact is sometimes animals just snap, even well-trained, super-loved pets. However, making sure your dog is healthy, exercised, disciplined, and properly contained greatly minimizes the threat they pose to your family.
Treating a Dog Bite
WebMD suggests treating any bite at home ASAP. This means applying basic care to your injury with clean, soapy water, disinfectant, etc. Keep bleeding wounds elevated and see a doctor immediately. Of course, if the bite is really bad, you’ll need to go to the ER immediately.
What to do after a Dog Attacks
Call a lawyer and go to the doctor. You’ll want to make sure you’re legally protected (especially if you live in/near L.A.) in addition to being medically treated. At the doctor’s office they will want to know as much information about the dog as possible, such as the breed, approximate age, any physical descriptors, and of course, if you can get it, the health history of the animal, such as whether or not it has had rabies, vaccinations, etc. A good lawyer will also be able to guide you through this process.
(Photo courtesy of ABC News)
