A probation officer who was involved in a Los Angeles dog bite incident shot at a pit bull that was charging toward him, but may have struck the dog owner with a ricochet instead, according to a news report in the Pasadena Star News. The Los Angeles probation officer along with others was in the middle of a scheduled visit on August 7, 2009, to the owner of a home in Duarte, California, when the shooting occurred. During their search of the home, the officers entered the man's backyard.

Their presence apparently agitated the pit bull, which charged at the officer, who first tried to fend off the animal with pepper spray. He then fired a bullet at the dog. The bullet grazed the dog, but police are still looking into whether the man's injuries were caused by the bullet or while attempting to restrain his dog. The pit bull was taken away by animal control officials but will not be euthanized.

It is indeed fortunate that this dog attack involving this pit bull did not result in serious personal injury to the probation officer or the dog owner. Apparently, the pit bull was extremely aggressive and was keen to attack.

National Dog Bite Statistics

Despite arguments put forth by animal rights activists that pit bulls are harmless dogs, dog bite statistics tell a different story. According to Dogsbite.org, a Web site for dog attack victims nationwide, of the 88 fatal dog attacks in the United States in a three-year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, 59 percent or 52 incidents involved pit bulls followed by rottweilers (14 percent), American bulldog and Husky (5 percent each). This dog bite fatality finding is more or less consistent with an earlier report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which states that pit bulls and rottweilers together account for 60 percent of fatal dog attacks.

It's not surprising that a number of cities in California and the rest of the United States are considering tightening regulations, specifically, on pit bull owners. California has a strict liability statute when it comes to dog bites. In California a person bitten by a dog sues in state court under California’s Civil Code Section 3342 which states: "The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness."

Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured by a dog bite, you would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will determine whether there was any negligence involved and ensure that the victim's legal rights are protected. In cases where victims suffer serious personal injury or mutilation, they could seek compensation from the negligent dog owner to cover medical expenses, reconstructive surgery, emotional distress and other related expenses.

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