CA Dog Bite Lawyer: Most Dog Bite Attacks Involve Dogs With No History Of Biting

On May 28, a 4-year-old boy in Brooklyn, New York was fatally mauled by a Cane Corso mastiff. The dog belonged to the boy's mother's boyfriend.  Jayelin Graham, his mother, and three siblings had just returned to the appointment when the dog attacked young Jayelin and bit him on his head, neck and body.  Family and neighbors struggled to remove the dog, but it was too late.  The boy was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
 
The dog's owner describes the dog as a "large Scooby Doo", but neighbors said the dog was vicious and had killed a pet rabbit. How do parents know if a dog is likely to attack their child? 
 
A 2007 study published in the journal Injury Prevention found that 80 percent of dogs that bite children have not bitten before, but most dogs that bite suffer from anxiety or medical problems. More than half the dogs involved in the study had medical conditions.

Most bites occurred because the dog felt his food or territory was threatened. Children are much more likely to become California dog bite victims if a dog feels that food, toys or other belongings are threatened. 
 
The California dog bite attorneys at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis and Leslie would like to remind parents that children should be supervised when interacting with dogs.  Even the most loving family dog can attack if sick or injured.
 
For more information, read our article, "What should you do if your child has been bitten by a dog?"