California Injury Blog
Should dog owners be held criminally responsible for severe injury attacks perpetrated by their dogs? Would the prospect of jail time, a fine and mandatory participation in a dog education program make dog owners more responsbile for their animals? Would such a law cut down on the number of vicisous attacks on children that happen nearly every day in our state?
If such a law saved ten vicious attacks on children a year, would it be worth it? If it was your child or grandchild that was saved, would it be worth it? You bet it would. Would such a law have prevented the following?:
A Monterey County Sheriff’s Department’s news release stated that on Thursday of last week, emergency crews from the North Monterey County Fire Protestion District and Westmed Ambulance Services treated a 7-year-old Las Lomas girl for severe dog attack wounds and then transported her to a local hospital. She suffered multiple lacerations to her face, back and leg.
The child’s mother told authorities that a neighbor’s dog, a Rottweiler, had broken loose from its chain and chased their family dog into their home where the 7-year-old and her 3-year-old sister were. The Rottweiler proceeded to attack and severely injury the 7-year-old.
According to The Free Dictionary “Rottweiler – German breed of large vigorous short-haired cattle dogs”.
According to Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Rottweilers: Stocky and muscular, it stands 22 – 27 in. (56 – 69 cm) and weighs 90 – 110 lbs (41 – 50 kg).