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Packs of Roving Dogs Injure People and Destroy Property | Virginia dog bite lawyer

Culpeper, Virginia Child Mauled By Roving Dogs

A three-year-old child and his grandmother were taking their daily stroll near their Culpeper home Wednesday when they were viciously attacked by two roving pit bulls. The dogs had been previously observed running loose by a neighbor but could not be found by animal control officers. The victims were hospitalized at University of Virginia Hospital where the child was admitted to intensive care with severe mouth and head injuries.

This is the second pit bull attack this year in Culpeper and comes just one day after a ten-year-old boy was mauled by a pack of dogs in Ohio, requiring 200 head stitches, rabies and tetanus shots, and nearly 100 staples in his legs.

Rural & Urban Epidemics

If you live in a rural area, packs of roving dogs may be familiar to you. Many rural areas do not have leash laws, so it’s not uncommon for loose pets to revert to their instinct to band together and hunt. These packs of dogs will take a meal where they can get it. A Virginia Cooperative Extension publication explains that "[b]oth domestic dogs and feral dogs often range in packs and do extensive damage once they begin to attack livestock.”

Luckily, farmers can be reimbursed for livestock attacks proven to be caused by dogs. But the financial toll these attacks take on local communities and the farm economy each year is serious.

But the epidemic has spread and also threatens people. Attacks by roving dog packs are on the rise in cities across the U.S. and even around the globe. The media has suggested that breeding dogs for aggressive qualities, increased dog fighting, and reduced animal control are the culprits. In both the Culpeper and Ohio attacks, it is suspected the vicious dogs were bred for fighting.

Attacks that Cost

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. One in five bites - that’s about 885,000 - needs medical attention. Most of those bites happened to children.

So who foots the medical bill when roving dog packs strike?

When the pet owners can be tracked down, they are held responsible for their pet’s actions. Dog bites may be covered by the owner’s insurance. If they do not have dog bite insurance, you are still entitled to recoup your medical bills and may also be entitled to pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, there are some cases where the dog is not recognized by witnesses and no owner comes forward to take responsibility. This is a huge concern to the mother of the Ohio boy since she is unemployed and now finds herself with mounting medical debt.

Staying Safe

You can take precautions to ensure that you and your neighborhood stay safe from roving dog packs. If you notice loose pets or strays in your area, call animal control immediately to report their location, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. If dangerous dogs are a problem in your area, you may want to invest in a citronella-based animal repellent. For more good advice on staying safe, what to do if you are attacked, and dog bite laws in Virginia, visit our Richmond, VA Accident Injury Lawyer blog or visit our Virginia dog bite lawyer website.

O’Bryan Law Firm is located in Richmond, VA, and serves the following counties, cities and towns:

Richmond: Church Hill, The Fan District, Near West end, Far West End, Jackson Ward, Carver, Southside, North side, Barton Heights, Bellevue, Ginter Park, Washington Park, Hermitage Rd, Highland Park, Sherwood Park, East End, Carytown, Museum District, Court End, Fulton Hill, Manchester, Newtowne West, Oregon Hill, Randolph, The River District, Shockoe Bottom, Three Corners District, Tobacco Row, Shockoe Slip, Union Hill, Westover Hills, Forest Hill, Bon Air, Stratford Hills, Meadowbrook, Woodland Heights, Montrose Heights, Fairfield Court, Creighton Court, Whitcomb Court, Mosby Court, Eastview, Brauers, Peter Paul, Woodville, North Church Hill, Chimborazo, Brandermill, and Oakwood. Henrico County: Chamberlayne, Dumbarton, East Highland Park, Glen Allen, Highland Springs, Lakeside, Laurel, Montrose, Short Pump, Tuckahoe, Wyndham, Sandston, Varina, Westhampton. Chesterfield County: Bellwood, Belmont, Bon Air, Brandermill, Chester, Courthouse, Enon, Ettrick, Genito, Gordon, Harrowgate, Hening, Jefferson Davis North, Manchester, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Midlothian, Reams, Robiou, Rockwood, Salisbury, South Rockwood, Spring Run, Winterpock, Woodlake. Hanover County: Ashland, Atlee, Beaverdam, Doswell, Elmont, Hanover Courthouse, Mechanicsville, Montpelier, Old Church, Rockville. Petersburg. South Boston. Colonial Heights. Hopewell. South Hill. Farmville. Powhatan County: Ballsville, Beaumont, Belona, Chestnut Oaks, Clayville, Dorset, Fin Creek Mills, Flat Rock, Genito, Goode Crossing, Hatchers, Hideaway Lake, Holly Hills, Huguenot, Huguenot Springs, Jefferson, Lilburn, Macon, Michaux, Moseley, Pilkinton, Plain View, Powhatan, Provost, Red Lane, Smiths Crossroads, Subletts, Tobaccoville, Trenholm, Worshams. Amelia County: Amelia Courthouse, Winterham. Caroline County: Bowling Green, Port Royal Mecklenburg County: Boydton, Brodnax, Chase City, Clarksville, La Crosse, Bracey. Halifax County: Clarksville, Halifax, Scottsburg, Virginia, Clover, Cluster Springs, Cody, Nathalie, Omega, Turbeville, Vernon Hill. Lunenburg County: Kenbridge, Victoria, Lunenburg, Meherrin. Prince Edward County: Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect, Hampden Sydney, Meherrin, Rice. Nottaway County: Blackstone, Burkeville, Crewe, Nottoway.