By far, dogs are the most common household pet in America, with 39% of households owning one or more dogs, according to the U.S. Humane Society. While many of these dogs are well-trained and loving, there are, unfortunately, many others that are aggressive and prone to harming a person if they become agitated or feel threatened. While any dog can become aggressive and bite someone, there are certain breeds that are statistically more likely to cause someone harm. These include the following:
- Pit bulls
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Chow Chows
- Huskies
- Akitas
While any of these and other breeds of dogs can be dangerous in certain situations, Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, compiled years of news accounts to reveal the following information about what are usually considered the most dangerous breeds, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers:
- Of all the dog attacks in the country that caused physical harm to the victim, 77% were caused by these dogs
- In all dog attacks, these dogs comprised 73% of the attacks affecting children and 81% of those affecting adults
- These two breeds made up a majority of the attacks that resulted in fatalities or maiming
Despite the aggressiveness of these two breeds and others, it is always the responsibility of a dog’s owner to ensure that a dog is properly restrained, preventing serious harm from coming to an innocent person. Whether this means keeping the dog tied with a leash, fencing off an owner’s property, buying special harnesses and muzzles, or other safety measures, it is an owner’s duty to make sure their dog cannot harm someone else.
However, not all dog owners take the appropriate safety measures, causing other people, most often children, to suffer dog bite injuries. This can cause victims severe physical harm, not to mention emotional trauma and a hefty financial burden. Many dog bite victims choose to enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer to pursue legal action against the responsible dog owner and possibly secure compensation for their injuries.
Carlos is an experienced legal blogger who is a regular contributor to endertonlaw.com.