63 The Cost of a Bite

May 16-22 was officially National Dog Bite Prevention Week. There were stories here and there, mostly a lot of statistics. We see the estimate of 4.5 million people bitten each year with approximately 1 in 5 of those needing medical attention for the bite they receive. Children ages 5 to 9 are most likely to be bitten and, for adults, males are bitten more often than females. Most victims of dog bites are familiar with the dog that bit them. Chained dogs are 2.8 times as likely to bite. The numbers are staggering and many organizations have published dog bite prevention tips.

Most people who write about dogs have tackled the issue of dog bites. We write about how to prevent them. We write about what your dog is saying through dog body language, how to recognize stress signals. We advise to always supervise children and dogs when they are together. We encourage people to socialize and train their dogs and to seek professional help when a problem arises. And yet the horrifying statistics about dog bites remain. I struggle with the question “why?”. Do people not educate themselves? Do they not care?

In part, I think folks believe Fluffy would never bite. Yet, if there is one mantra we have in the dog training world, it's that all dogs will bite, given the right circumstances. Ever had a day when you woke up late, cut yourself shaving, had a flat tire, then received a reprimand from the boss when you arrived late for work? When you got home, the spouse was unhappy with you for having forgotten to pick up the cleaning, the children are screaming at each other, and you just heard on the news your taxes are increasing. The phone rings and a perfectly nice person asking for a donation to a worthy cause receives the brunt of your frustrations. Normally, you are charming, but not tonight. Now, put it in the context of a dog's life. The neighbor's kids threw rocks at you on their way to school and you really don't like kids anyway. Your owner forgot to feed you breakfast (he was mumbling something about a flat tire), the mailman came on to your property, Fido from up the street came running by off lead to taunt you, and then it began to thunder, which terrifies you. Now Johnny is trying to take away your favorite chew toy. SNAP!

Some folks either don't know or don't care about the fact that there is a leash law in Tennessee. It is a statewide law enforced by local authorities. It applies to all counties in the state. TN Law 44-8-413 prohibits dogs from running at large. In addition, it states that anyone who allows their dog to run, whether the dog is known to be aggressive or not, will be subject to civil liability. That caught my eye as I had recently talked with a dog-savvy friend who was bitten by a neighbor's dog as she walked down the road. The dog was running loose without supervision. The owner now has some large fines to pay. I wonder, if people don't care about laws or doing what is right for the dog, will financial penalties catch their attention?

How much will it cost if your dog is running loose and bites someone? Start with the victim of the bite. Doctor, emergency room, and a hospital stay, if necessary, can be charged to the owner of the dog. The person bitten may also sue the negligent owner for lost wages, pain and suffering, property damages, and scarring and disfigurement. Legal fees may have to be paid by the dog owner if he loses in court. One dog bite lawyer reports court settlements run between $5,000 and $500,000. A quick check of two cases tried in Tennessee show settlements of $62,500 and $300,000.

You have home owner's insurance, so no problem, right? Well, most companies have paid out huge settlements in dog bite cases. One insurance spokesperson reports companies pay out well over $2 billion annually in dog bite claims. If your dog bites, you may receive either a hefty increase in your premium or a cancellation notice. Finding a new company may be next to impossible, especially now that your dog has a bite history.

If you have no proof of current rabies vaccination, your dog may be quarantined by Animal Control at the Shelter – at your expense, of course. Don't forget there will also be a fine to be paid for violating the law. If you are lucky, you'll only be looking at $500 for the quarantine and fine. That doesn't include your lost wages if you have to go to court.

Hopefully you will give these facts and figures some thought. No one wants to be financially ruined due to a disaster that could have been avoided. Caring for your dog means more than providing food, water, and shelter. It means accepting the fact he was born knowing the rules of canine society, not human society. Owners must avoid putting their dogs in situations which may cause them to bite. Failure to do so may lead to the ultimate penalty – forfeiture of the dog's life.