Multiple Dog Bites Reported in June, Including New Jersey Toddler Mauled by 2 Pit Bulls

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Multiple Dog Bites Reported in June, Including New Jersey Toddler Mauled by 2 Pit Bulls

Multiple Dog Bites Reported in June, Including New Jersey Toddler Mauled by 2 Pit Bulls

Jun 14, 2021

A tragic story out of Elizabeth, New Jersey, surfaced last week, leaving a community mourning. A 3-year-old boy died after falling from a window at his parent’s home and landing in the backyard. Subsequently, the toddler was mauled by two dogs owned by the family.

At approximately 5:25 p.m. on June 9, Elizabeth Police Department officers responded to a home and found a toddler with serious injuries, according to multiple media reports. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the child had fallen approximately 10 feet.

The boy, whose identity has not been released, was taken to local Trinitas Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead just after 6:30 p.m. Authorities stated it is not yet clear what caused the child’s death, according to a local FOX 11 report.

The backyard area where the boy fell was enclosed by a fence, and the two dogs reportedly attacked immediately after the fall. “I heard something like bang and then I heard someone was screaming like, ‘Help! No stop, no stop!‘” a neighbor who declined to give her name told NJ.com.

The dogs were reportedly secured by animal control workers at the scene and then taken to an undisclosed location. Information regarding the breed of the dogs was not immediately released, but an ABC News report from June 12 identified the animals as pit bulls.

In an interview with WABC, Maria Rocha, a neighbor, said she witnessed the moments immediately after the dog attack. “I saw the mother, she was full of blood in her hands, her shirt,” Rocha said. “And I was like, ‘what happened?’ so I came here because it was full of police and she told me, ‘My baby, my baby, I went to the bathroom and my baby fell out the window.'”

The incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed up to this point. The 3-year-old boy was the only individual who sustained any injuries in the incident.

NJ.com reported shortly after the attack that city officials were moving to euthanize the two dogs. “The dogs are currently quarantined, and the City is moving towards euthanizing them,” said Kelly Martins, spokeswoman for Elizabeth.

The NJ.com report also cited a woman who lives in the area as describing the dogs being “aggressive” and having seen the animals “jumping and barking” whenever she walked past.

More Dog Bite Attacks in the News

On June 13, Clara McGregor – actress and daughter of actor Ewan McGregor – revealed she had been the victim of a dog bite via an Instagram post. “When a dog bite lands you in the ER 30 mins before the red carpet,” McGregor wrote, along with a picture showing cuts and scrapes under her eye and along her nose from the dog bite attack.

The actress reportedly went to the emergency room after the dog bite and then proceeded to a premiere event for the upcoming film, The Birthday Cake. McGregor posed for pictures on the red carpet with the dog bite marks visible on her face and reportedly received an outpouring of support from fans.

Additionally, on June 9 a local media outlet reported on a gruesome dog bite attack in Kampsville, Illinois. A FedEx delivery man was making a routine stop at a home when two dogs escaped and proceeded to attack him.

According to a local sheriff, two American bulldogs unlatched a door and ran towards the driver, eventually biting him and causing serious damage to his arms.
FedEx Driver Mauled By Dogs Has Arm Amputated Following Attack

“At the scene, it was bad. It’s the worst I’ve seen,” Sheriff William Heffington said to local NBC affiliate, KSDK. The homeowners arrived back at the scene shortly after the dog attack occurred. The FedEx driver reportedly needed immediate medical attention.

“It was bad enough to send him to the hospital by air,” the sheriff said.

The sheriff expressed disbelief, noting the dogs had no prior history of aggressive behavior or complaints. “Neighbors come and go too,” the sheriff said. “That’s why it was surprising they attacked.”

Due to the severity of the dog bites, the state of Illinois is reportedly involved in the matter.

The dog owners were served summonses and must appear in court. The courts will reportedly decide what happens next, and the KSDK article noted euthanasia is a possibility.

“The owners are pretty upset about the whole thing too. They couldn’t believe what they saw from their dogs. I know the homeowners are having trouble dealing with this and they feel really bad about it all,” Sheriff Heffington said.

The dogs are currently being detained by authorities. The FedEx driver’s family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the extensive medical bills.

FedEx issued the following statement following the dog bite:

First and foremost, our thoughts remain focused on the well-being of the individual involved in this incident. There is no higher priority for FedEx Ground than the safety and security of our team members and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at this time.

Protecting You and Your Family From Dog Bites

Protecting You and Your Family From Dog Bites

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that approximately 4.7 million dog bites occur annually in the United States. Of those nearly 5 million dog attacks, roughly 800,000 require medical care. Dog bite injuries were highest among children between the ages of five and nine years.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) provides the following tips for preventing dog bites involving children:

  • Children should not approach, touch, or play with any dog who is sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or bone, or caring for puppies. Animals are more likely to bite if they’re startled, frightened, or caring for young.
  • Children should never approach a barking, growling, or scared dog.
  • Children should not pet unfamiliar dogs without asking permission from the dog’s guardian first. If the guardian says it is okay, the child should first let the dog sniff his closed hand. Then, taking care to avoid petting the dog on the top of the head, the child can pet the dog’s shoulders or chest.
  • Children should not try to pet dogs who are behind a fence or in a car. Dogs often protect their home or space.
  • If a child sees a dog off-leash outside, he should not approach the animal and should tell an adult immediately.
  • If a loose dog comes near a child, he or she should not run or scream. Instead, the child should avoid eye contact with the dog and stand very still (like a tree) until the animal moves away. Once the dog loses interest, the child can slowly back away.
  • If a child falls down or is knocked to the ground by a dog, he or she should curl up in a ball by tucking the knees into the stomach (and fingers interlocked behind the neck to protect the neck and ears). If a child stays still and quiet like this, the dog will most likely just sniff and then go away.
  • Children should never try to outrun a dog. If a dog does attack a child, the child should “feed” the dog his jacket, bag, bicycle-or anything available for the dog to grab onto (anything that can be put between the child and the dog).

Additionally, the ASPCA provides the following tips for preventing dog bites involving adults:

  • Adopt from a well-managed animal shelter whose staff and volunteers can fill you in on the dog’s background, personality, and behavior in the shelter.
  • Spay or neuter your dog as soon as possible. Healthy puppies can be spayed or neutered as early as eight weeks of age. Spayed or neutered dogs may be less likely to bite.
  • Socialize your dog! Well-socialized dogs make enjoyable, trustworthy companions. Undersocialized dogs are a risk to their owners and to others because they can become frightened by everyday things (which means they are more likely to aggress or bite). Socializing is the opposite of isolating. It’s important for puppies to meet, greet, and enjoy a variety of people, animals, places, and things. Done properly, socializing helps puppies feel comfortable and friendly in various situations, rather than uncomfortable and potentially aggressive. The main rule for effective socializing is to let your dog progress at its own pace and never force the animal to be around someone or something when it is clearly fearful or uncomfortable.
  • Take your dog to humane, reward-based training classes-the earlier the better. The ASPCA recommends starting your puppy in puppy kindergarten classes as early as eight weeks, right after its first set of vaccinations. Early training opens a window of communication between you and your dog that will help you consistently and effectively teach her good behavior.
  • Make your dog a part of the family. Don’t chain or tie the animal outside, and don’t leave it unsupervised for long periods of time-even in a fenced yard. Most tethered dogs become frustrated and can feel relatively defenseless, so they’re much more likely to bite. Well-socialized and supervised dogs are much less likely to bite.
  • Don’t wait for a serious accident to happen. The first time your dog shows aggressive behavior towards anybody, even if no injury occurs, seek professional help from a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), a veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), or a qualified Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT).
  • Err on the safe side. Be aware of common triggers of aggression, including pain, injury or sickness, the approach of strangers or strange dogs, the approach of people in uniforms, costumes or unusual attire (especially hats), unexpected touching, unfamiliar places, crowds, and loud noises like thunder, wind, construction, fireworks, and appliances. If possible, avoid exposing your dog to these triggers. If the animal seems stressed or panicked in crowds, leave it at home. If the dog overreacts to visitors or delivery personnel, keep it in another room when they come to your house. Work with a qualified behavior and training professional to help your dog become more comfortable with these and other situations.
  • Always supervise children and dogs. Never leave a baby or child younger than 10 years old alone with a dog. Teach your children to treat your dog gently and with respect, giving the dog its own space and opportunities to rest.
  • Fulfill basic animal-care responsibilities. License your dog as required by law and provide regular veterinary care, including rabies vaccinations. Don’t allow your dog to roam alone.

Hiring the Best Dog Bite Attorney to Help Recover Damages After an Injury

As we’ve noted in previous blogs, even if you sustain a minor injury from a dog bite, you may be eligible for compensation. Enduring pain and suffering on top of medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma deserves maximum financial compensation to ensure a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.

The experienced team of dog bite attorneys at Dordulian Law Group (DLG) are here to help you after an unfortunate attack. We’ve helped countless dog bite victims recover maximum damages awards for various types of injuries – major and minor.

If you experienced a dog bite injury, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.

We’ll fight to ensure the animal owner is held responsible for all of your financial losses resulting from the dog bite injury, as well as any non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, psychological trauma, and more.

Don’t put your dog bite claim in the hands of a firm that will not treat it with the dedication and attention it deserves. Contact the best dog bite lawyers in California led by former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian. With over 100 jury trial victories, Dordulian has the experience needed to help you recover the damages award you deserve.

DLG’s 98% success rate and history of recovering over $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts is proof that when you bring us your dog bite personal injury claim, we’ll fight aggressively as your dedicated advocate to ensure you are able to move forward without having to worry about mounting medical bills or lost wages. Contact us today online or by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to learn more about how we can help you win your dog bite injury claim.

Author

Samuel Dordulian

Samuel Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.




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