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Daniel Buckfire, Partner
Attorney & Author

Dog bites are becoming more common and, more importantly, people are becoming more willing to report dogs who have injured them.  Many times they do this because they know that a dog that has attacked them will attack another person, maybe a small child, in the future. 

The data speaks for itself: only by holding dog owners accountable for the injuries their dogs cause can your community be safe. 

The 2007 National Canine Research Council Year-End Report investigated reported incidents of dog attacks from the past 40 years.  The report conclusively identified three ownership/management practices that cause dogs to behave dangerously.

     1. Using Dogs to Intimidate Others
     2. Failing to Control Dogs
     3. Failing to Spay or Neuter Their Dogs

Using Dogs to Intimidate Others

Dogs are much more likely to attack and injure others when they are kept to intimidate other people or animals and not as household pets.  For instance, the data suggests that dog owners who keep their dogs as guard dogs to scare or intimidate visitors encourage their dogs to be hostile to strangers.  When the owner’s purpose is to use the dog for competition in illegal dog fights, the owner deliberately makes the dog as mean and vicious as possible.  Finally, some dog owners use their dogs as part of their own breeding program.  Such programs can result in dogs that are poorly adjusted to human company.

Failing to Control Dogs

Responsible dog owners keep their pets in the house, in fenced-in yards or on a leash.  Dogs that are properly kept have little or no opportunity to attack people other than their owner.  On the other hand, loose and roaming dogs or dogs that have broken free after abuse or neglect are much more likely to have the opportunity to attack others.  Dog bites and other injuries from dogs attacks are much more likely to occur when the owner fails to control his or her dog.

Failing to Spay or Neuter Dogs

Owners of dogs that are not used for competition, show, or a responsible and medically supervised breeding program should have their dogs spayed or neutered to avoid injuries to others.  It is a well-documented fact that all animals, including dogs, are more aggressive when they are “in heat” and trying to breed. 

The National Canine Research Council report finds that “Holding owners accountable for the humane treatment, containment, and control of their dog is the only way to minimize incidence of canine aggression.”

If you would like more information about your rights after a Dog Bite attack, you can order our FREE book, “The Ultimate Michigan Dog Bite & Animal Attack Handbook” by clicking on the book link.  We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

To read more about Michigan dog bite law or to watch an informational video, click on the links.  For more information about Michigan dog bite cases, visit our law firm web site at www.BuckfireLaw.com   If you would like to speak with one of our Michigan dog bite attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (800) 606-1717 or simply submit this contact form and we will get back to you quickly.