My dog would never bite anyone! But what if it does?

“My sweet dog would never bite anyone. It can be loud and bark, but it would never bite or hurt anyone.” Don’t we all think this about our pets? But what if a unique situation occurred – maybe even one where your dog felt threatened or scared – and your pet did bite or injure someone? It happens more than you think, in fact, 4.5 million people per year in the U.S. are bitten by dogs. Around 800,000 of those incidents require medical attention*.

With that frequency in mind, let’s talk about what happens when those situations take place.

Immediate Actions

First, ensure the safety of everyone involved and secure your dog to prevent further incidents.

Then, assist the victim in seeking medical attention if necessary.

Next, exchange information with the person bitten and get information from anyone who witnessed it.

Reporting the Incident

Notify authorities: In many areas, you must report the bite to local animal control or public health authorities. This may include providing details about your dog and the incident. You may also need to provide proof of your dog’s rabies vaccination.

As we discussed, we don’t think our dogs would ever harm anyone. But if it did happen, let’s talk about the possible Legal and Financial Consequences:

Quarantine: Depending on the local laws and the severity of the bite, your dog might be quarantined for a period to ensure it does not have rabies.

Legal Liability: You may be legally responsible for injuries or damages caused by your dog. This could involve compensating the injured party for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Insurance Claims: If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, it might cover liability for dog bites. Contact your insurance agent to report the incident.

Since we are on the subject of insurance claims involving dogs, we should talk about the reasons some insurance companies exclude certain breeds or reduce the amount of liability coverage for canines. This doesn’t mean these are “bad” breeds, it just means the data shows reasons for concern.

Historical Data: Certain dog breeds have been associated with higher incidences of aggressive behavior or bites. Insurance companies rely on historical data and statistics to assess risk. Breeds that have been involved in more incidents may be considered higher risk, and the severity of the injuries may be worse. The potential cost of claims involving these breeds can be significantly higher.

Litigation Risks: Higher incidents of litigation involving certain breeds can lead to increased legal costs for insurance companies. By excluding certain breeds or reducing liability coverage, companies aim to manage the risk effectively and maintain financial stability. Here at FMT Insurance, we will exclude dogs that, upon inspection, are aggressive to the inspector or it may be disclosed on the application at the time the policy is written; we lower the liability limit and include any of our dogs!

Potential Outcomes for Your Dog

Behavioral Assessment: Authorities might require a behavioral assessment of your dog to determine if it poses a risk to public safety.

Mandatory Training: You could be required to enroll your dog in obedience training or behavioral modification programs.

Euthanasia: In severe cases, especially if the dog has a history of aggressive behavior, authorities might mandate euthanasia.

Preventative Measures

Training and Socialization: Ensure your dog is adequately trained and socialized to prevent future incidents.

Supervision: Always supervise your dog when it becomes aggressive, especially around strangers or unfamiliar environments.

We all want to believe our pets would never harm anyone; if we are honest, they are like our kids. But we all know our kids can “act out” sometimes, and we should be prepared if those episodes should occur for our dogs.

*Per Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/dog-attack-statistics-breed/

Teresa Coones | FMT Team