Girl Killed in Long Island Dog Attack

 A play date turned deadly for a 9-year-old girl when a pet pit bull attacked and killed her at a home on Long Island. According to a report in New York Daily News, the fatal dog attack occurred when the girl was playing at a friend’s home in the backyard on Holland Avenue near Murray Hill Street. The pit bull suddenly attacked, unprovoked. A neighbor hearing the girls’ screams took his broom and tried to push the dog away. The mother of the girl that the victim was visiting also tried to pull the dog off.
The mother had left her daughter and her friend in the backyard with the dog when she went in to get something. That’s when the attack happened. When police arrived and ran to help the girl, the dog let go of her and charged the officer. The police officer fired several shots killing the dog. The girl was rushed to a local hospital where she died several hours later. Based on media reports, there have never been any official complaints about this pit bull.

Dog Attacks and Children
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 4.5 million dog bites each year in the United States. Nearly one out of five bites become infected. Approximately 800,000 of these injuries each year require hospital visits and about half of these patients are children.
A number of young victims tend to get treated in the emergency department and then sent home, but there are also many who require hospitalization and reconstructive surgery. Many of these patients are children. Among children, the rate of dog-bite-related injuries is highest for those 5 to 9 years old. Children are also more likely than adults to receive medical attention for dog bite injuries. Among adults, men are more likely than women to be bitten by a dog, according to CDC’s statistics. Fatalities in dog attacks tend to involve more children than adults.
Being a Responsible Dog Owner
A number of dog attacks in New York involve pets biting visitors or guests. In such cases, depending on the circumstances, the dog’s owner can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. There are also a number of steps dog owners can take to prevent their pets from biting or attacking:
• Spay or neuter your dog. This will reduce your pet’s desire to roam and fight with other dogs. Spayed or neutered dog are much less likely to bite.
• Socialize your dog. Introduce your dog to many different types of people and situations so he or she is not startled or nervous in normal social circumstances.
• Train your dog. Going along with your dog to training class is a great way to socialize your pet and to learn proper training techniques. Every member of your household should learn the training techniques and participate in the dog’s education.
• Teach your dog proper behavior. Set appropriate limits. If your dog exhibits dangerous behavior, seek professional help from your veterinarian or animal behaviorist right away. Don’t wait for “the next time.”
• License your dog as required by law and make sure your pet is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. Do not allow your dog to roam alone. Dogs that spend a lot of time chained up or alone in the backyard often become dangerous.
• Keep your dog away from stressful situations. Be cautious if you are unsure as to how your dog will react to a new situation.
• If your dog bites someone, confine your dog immediately and get medical help for the victim. Give the victim important information such as the date of your dog’s last rabies vaccination. Cooperate with animal control officials and seek professional help to prevent your dog from biting again.
Compensation for Dog Bite Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog bite incident, or if you have lost a loved one in a dog attack, please know that you have rights. The experienced New York personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help dog bite victims and their families get fair and full compensation for their losses. Our law firm recovered $750,000 for a girl who was bitten by a dog, which was the most money recovered in New York State that year for a dog bite.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: New York Daily News