If you were bitten by a dog and don’t know who owns the dog, contact animal control as soon as possible and file a report. You will be required to give them a description of the dog so that they can try to identify the dog and locate the dog’s owner.
Every year approximately 4.7 million people in the U.S.A. are bit by a dog. Most people are bitten by a dog that is owned by either a family member, friend or neighbor. Others are bitten by a stray dog or a loose or lost pet.
The following steps will help increase your change of finding the owner of the dog that bit you:
• It is important to get a good mental description of the dog such as breed, size, color and markings.
• If you are carrying your cell phone with you, take a picture of the dog that attacked you.
Don’t Give Up!
• Check with neighbors in the area where you were attacked to find out if they have any information whatsoever about the dog or dog’s owner.
• Call authorities such as animal control or the police department as soon as possible. They may be able to retain the dog and locate the owner.
Keep in mind the following:
Without knowing the dog’s owner, you won’t know the vaccination and health history of the dog. In that case, you will likely need to get further medical care including rabies shots.
Without being able to find the dog’s owner, you will not be able to get reimbursement for your medical bills and other damages.
If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries and medical bills. The Attorneys at the Edward A Smith Law Offices have over three decades of experience handling dog bite claims. Contact our Sacramento office at (916) 921-6400. If your out of the area contact 1-800-404-5400, www.autoaccident.com. Reviews about our office can be found on Yelp and Avvo.