A 9-year-old girl was forced to undergo surgery following a dog bite, in which the girl’s mother says a 6-year-old golden retriever mix attacked the girl. The woman said that the dog was unprovoked. The dog’s elderly owner disputes the claims.
The owner said that while on a walk, the girl came up and screamed in the dogs face, causing the dog to react. Now, the dog has been ordered to be euthanized, but the owner has been granted a restraining order and plans to appeal the case. The woman will have a hearing on Dec. 24, which will determine whether the restraining order can remain in place while she appeals the destruction of the animal.
When a dog attacks a person and causes bodily injury, the owner must be held accountable. While it is important that both sides of the story are heard, many dogs with violent tendencies could pose risks to other people.
Dog bites that require medical attention, which most do, can cost a family thousands of dollars in medical expenses. If a dog doesn’t have proper vaccinations and is carrying disease, they could spread that disease on top of any physical injuries that are caused.
Although pet owners consider their animals to be like family, it is important that they protect others from unexpected animal reactions. Failure to do so can sometimes result in attacks and injuries, such as the ones in this case in San Antonio. The report on this attack said that the girl had a torn tear duct and other facial injuries, resulting in surgery.
Source: San Antonio Express-News, “Buddy the dog wins a reprieve,” Gilbert Garcia, Dec. 11, 2013