Your Dog Bit Someone. Now What?

Would you know what to do if your dog bit someone? Unfortunately, each and every dog owner could someday face this nightmare scenario. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that around 4.7 million dog bites occur in the United States each year. Every animal has the potential to bite.

When I was in college, my dog bit someone I loved. I had come home for an unannounced visit, and my younger brother ran out the door to greet me. My beloved and historically gentle pet, which still lived at our parents’ home, was standing between me and my brother as I stepped out of my car. As my brother ran toward me, yelling a greeting, my dog lunged and bit him multiple times. He was trying to protect me from what he perceived as a threat, but the result was disastrous. The attack was terrifying, and although it lasted just seconds, it left my brother in shock with multiple bite wounds.

I knew exactly what to do first in this situation. I took my brother straight to the emergency room for medical care. This is an important first step any time an animal bites someone and breaks the skin. Dog bites can transmit diseases through both viruses and bacteria. You must clean and properly treat bite wounds as quickly as possible. But what comes next?

Is your dog vaccinated?

The next step to take if you know that your dog bit someone is check their vaccination records. Are they up to date on all their vaccinations, including rabies? Were they vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian in your state?

If your pet is current on their vaccinations, notify the victim that the animal’s rabies vaccine is up to date. Provide them with a copy of the record if you can.

If your animal is not current on their rabies vaccine at the time of the bite, you will need to act quickly. Notify the victim immediately regarding the animal’s vaccination status. Quarantine your dog for 10 days. Do not allow any contact with humans or other animals during this period. Watch your dog carefully for any signs of illness. If it shows any signs of illness during the quarantine period, the victim may need to begin rabies shots, and your dog may have to be euthanized and tested.

You should always keep your dog up to date on their rabies vaccine so that this worst-case scenario does not happen.

Am I liable if my dog bit someone?

You may be liable for damages, and you may even be subject to criminal fines or even jail time if your dog bites someone. The laws vary state by state, and even from one municipality to another. However, your liability largely depends on the circumstances surrounding the bite. Here are a few things to consider:

• Is there a law on the books?
• Did your dog bite without provocation?
• Did the person have a legal right to be where they were at the time of the bite?
• Has it bitten anyone in the past?
• Is your dog a known vicious or aggressive animal?

If your dog has bitten someone, you must be able to answer all of these questions accurately in order to determine your potential liability.

What is my state law on dog bites?

As stated earlier, laws regarding dog bites vary from state to state. In the case of a bite, one of your first actions should be to look up the law in your state. Some states, such as Mississippi, do not have a bite statute on the books. In Mississippi, dogs essentially get one free bite without liability, unless the owner has some previous knowledge that the animal is vicious.

Many other states hold an owner strictly liable for damages if their dog bites someone, even if it has not demonstrated vicious behavior in the past. This holds true especially if the victim has done nothing to provoke the dog, and if they are bitten while in a public place or legally present in a private location.

Was there provocation?

If your dog bites someone while being provoked, you may not be liable for its actions. This depends on the state in which the bite occurred. In Massachusetts, for instance, state law provides that you would not be held liable if your dog bit someone over the age of 7 who was “teasing, tormenting, or abusing” the dog.

Where did the bite occur?

Where was your animal when the bite took place? If they were on public property or legally present on private property, you may be liable for its actions. If, on the other hand, your dog bit someone who was illegally present on your property, attacking you or your family, or was in the commission of another crime, you likely would not be liable for damages.

Did you know your dog was vicious?

You are much more likely to be held liable if you knew before your dog bit someone that they were aggressive or vicious. In some states, you may not only face civil liability, but you may also face substantial jail time for allowing a vicious animal access to attack someone. This is especially true if your dog has already bitten someone in the past. Even the relatively lax states that allow for one bite without liability tend to hold owners responsible if a dog with a history of biting attacks again.

Will I have to put my dog down?

Perhaps the most pressing question on any pet owner’s mind is whether they will have to put their beloved pet down if it attacks another person. If your dog bit someone, you could indeed face this scenario. The main factor would be a lack of proper vaccinations. If your dog lacks proof of its rabies vaccination when the bite occurs, your worst fears could come true. If it shows signs of illness during the required quarantine period, you may have to have it euthanized.

Another factor determining the fate of your pet could be the severity of the attack. An animal that mauls someone, causing extensive injury or death, would be much more likely to face euthanasia than one that simply nipped a neighbor’s ankle.

In any case, once your dog bites someone, you absolutely must take measures to prevent that from ever happening again. In addition to socialization and training, those measures may include confining the dog. You may need to invest in a high, reinforced fence or crate the dog when visitors come into your home. You may also have to rehome the animal to keep it away from small children or others who may trigger its bad behavior. In the worst cases of vicious and aggressive dogs, the only option may be to put the animal down.

Be responsible and avoid the consequences

Dog bite scenarios can happen to even the best owners. Responsible dog owners can take precautions, though, to help reduce the chances of their dog biting a human. One thing you can do is socialize the animal well as a puppy. Train it to respond to commands even in busy and stressful situations. Another thing you can do is get your pet’s vaccines on time, every time. If your dog shows any aggressive tendencies, whether around food, other animals, or strangers, get help with training or consider a muzzle. Take extra care to make sure that it is always on a secure harness when in public and safely contained within your home, and with a high fence around the yard.

Taking every measure to safeguard yourself, your dog, and the public from the beginning can help you avoid potentially devastating consequences such as a major lawsuit, jail time, and the loss of your animal if your dog does bite someone in the future.