Man Cited After Dog Attacks 19-Month Old
After a small Terrier mix dog attacked and bit a 19-month-old child, the dog’s owner was cited for allowing his dog to run loose without supervision. The Kentucky courts will be handing down a fine to the 64-year-old man in connection with this incident. The attack originally occurred when the 19-month-old was trying to pet the dog on her family’s porch. The child was bitten in the face and had to be treated by medical staff. Authorities found the dog had not had a rabies vaccination and had to be quarantined at a Davidson County animal shelter.
After an ordinance was passed in Lexington; where the attack occurred, the police have the authority to declare whether the dog should be labeled as a vicious dog or not. If the dog is declared as such, the 64-year-old man would be required to release custody to the county animal shelter or build a kennel to house the dog with a muzzle.
Dog bite statistics have gradually increased throughout the entire United States over the last several years. Recently with the passing of dog leash laws and other pet-related laws, there has been a bright light shining on these statistics either in defense of dogs and other animals, or as a way to vilify these animals. However, the fact is that the only way to ensure that these dog bite statistics don’t continue to rise is through responsible ownership. Dogs operate on instinct based on the way they are raised as pets and based on their environment. When a dog senses a threat, they react in a vicious manner. Other times a dog may be acting in a playful manner and accidently injure a person they are trying to play with.
When people say that pets should be properly housed in a backyard or somewhere away from pedestrians who could get hurt, suggestions like this are often misconstrued and misinterpreted. Some think it is an insinuation that dogs and other pets should be imprisoned in a cage or imprisoned in their own homes. However, this is not the case. In order for people to ensure the safety of their pets and of others in the streets, it is important to know that your pets are safely in their own homes or in their own yard. When you take your pet out in public, you should ensure that they are on a leash so that you can keep an eye on them and make sure you know where they are at all times.
