A dog was euthanized Thursday evening after wounding four people in West Palm Beach, including a city firefighter and a 3-year-old girl.
According to the director for Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, the dog’s brain tissue will be tested for rabies as a precaution.
The dog, a cane corso mix, apparently bit a 13-year-old girl on the arm around 6 p.m. Shortly after the attack, West Palm Beach Fire-Rescue crews arrived at the scene.
The dog appeared to have attacked its owner’s grandmother before biting the girl, but the woman did not require medical attention.
While Fire-Rescue crews were treating the girl, the dog apparently freed itself from restraints and nipped the buttocks of a 3-year-old girl. A firefighter quickly intervened and was bitten on the forearm and hand as he attempted to separate the girl from the dog.
The firefighter and the two girls were taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center.
The 13-year-old does not live at the residence and it is unclear whether the 3-year-old lives there.
Following the attack, the dog was classified as vicious and the owner was not allowed to keep it. It is unknown if the owner will face any charges stemming from the attack.
The director for Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control claims the owner was in violation of some regulations. The dog was apparently not current on its rabies vaccinations, and it appears the dog was not licensed, which is a civil infraction. The dog also apparently was not vaccinated, which is a violation of state and local law. It was unknown whether the dog had been sterilized, as required by local ordinance.
A dog bite attack can be a traumatic event, especially for a child bitten by a dog, which may result in serious injuries or even wrongful death. Numerous deaths are reported every year as a result of vicious dog attacks. Most dog bite attacks leave a victim with permanent scarring, nerve damage and at great risk for developing and infection. Often there is psychological harm that remains with the victim well beyond the physical personal injury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association, nearly five million people across the U.S. are attacked by dogs every year. In fact, it is estimated that every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. requires medical treatment for a dog bite-related injury. Unfortunately, children are the most common victims of vicious dog attacks. The CDC has reported that dog attacks pose a greater risk to children’s health than whooping cough, mumps, and measles combined. Perhaps even more frightening, nearly two-thirds of dog bite injuries among children ages four and younger are to the head and neck region.
For most dog attack cases, the owner is liable for any injuries caused by their dog. The Florida Dog Attack Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you and your loved ones recover damages associated with a dog bite injury. It is important to note that your ability to recover financial compensation relies heavily upon the scope of your injuries as well as the medical care needed to treat those injuries. Due to statutes of limitations, the ability to file a dog mauling claim is time sensitive, so it is imperative to contact Whittel & Melton immediately right away.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a dog bite or animal attack throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Dog Attack Attorneys at Whittel & Melton online or dial us statewide and toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).