dog safety -

Tuesday evening saw officials with the Nassau County, New York Police Department going door to door in a bid to find two dogs thought to be responsible for a series of attacks that left four local residents injured.  It all started Tuesday night at around 6:30 pm, when a teenager was reportedly attacked by the two animals.  Following that incident, three women of various ages were set upon over the next half hour.  The animals are believed to be pit bulls, and in order to find the dogs before they could harm anyone else, authorities sent patrols around the neighborhood to question people.  The hope is that they could find the animals’ owner, who may be unaware of the situation, or else stumble across someone who at least knows who the dogs belonged to or where they might be hidden.

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The number of dog bite fatalities which occurred last year is compiled and examined in a new report.  In many cases, the deaths can be attributed to pit bulls, who make up the lion’s share of the attacks.  This comes despite laws in many states placing regulations and prohibitions on owning such animals.

Throughout all of 2012, 38 people were killed because they were attacked by a dog.  Pit bulls were responsible for all but 15 of those fatalities.  The rest of the deaths came as the result of an attack by a rottweiler, a German shepherd, a mixed breed, or some other type of dog.

Our own state of California has the dubious distinction of having more deaths than any other state but North Carolina.  Four people died in each state.  Only seven of the incidents led the owner of the animal to be charged in a criminal court, despite the fact that 31 of the 38 fatalities actually happened on the dog owner’s premises.

The threat becomes even more apparent when considering the period of time between 2005 and 2012.  In that eight year timespan, pit bulls contributed to the deaths of 151 United States citizens, with rottweilers accounting for 32 deaths.

Here’s a list of the most vicious dog breeds in 2012:

• Pit Bulls- 23 fatalities (63%)
• Rottweilers- 3 (8%)
• German Shepherds- 2(5%)
• Mixed Breeds- 2 (5%)

Indiana news station WISH-TV reports on a new high temperature alarm being installed in the cars of the Noblesville Police Department’s K-9 unit. The installations are a response to the recent death of a police dog in a hot squad car in Arizona. Although each alarm costs about $1,000 to install, the K-9 unit officers no doubt realize their companions’ health is worth the additional expense.

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Recalls might seem like they’re more prevalent than ever.  But it’s important to note that not all recalls affect humans.

Take this next recall for example.  Mars Petcare has announced a recall of three different canned Pedigree dog foods.  Those recalled items are Pedigree Weight Management Meaty Ground Dinner with Beef and Liver or Chicken and Rice, each iun Meaty Juices, and Pedigree+ Healthy Weight Premium Ground Entree in Meaty Juices.  Each of the items in question has a best by date from February 24 to March 24 of 2014, and a lot code with 209 through 212 as the first three digits.

The dog food, which was available from retail locations across the entire country, was recalled because there’s a danger that the cans might have chunks of blue plastic intermingled with the food.  A broken conveyor belt was apparently responsible for this defect, and the company has stated that they have since replaced that component.

Thankfully, no reports of dogs becoming sick as a result of eating these products has come to the attention of the company.  However, there have been consumers who have reportedly found these blue plastic pieces.  Given the threat, anyone who feeds their dogs these items is being advised to bring the cans back to where they were purchased for a refund.  If they prefer, they can simply discard the items without feeding the dog food to their animal.

Ending the practice of distracted driving has become a cause for safety officials all across the country.  And although efforts to curb this dangerous activity typically focus on ways that we can prevent texting or talking on a cellphone, another danger is also giving officials cause to worry:  driving with pets.

It’s not so much driving with a pet that’s a problem, but driving with an animal without following safety guidelines.  In a survey conducted by AAA in 2010, 20% of respondents said they let their dogs sit on their lap while driving, and an even higher 31% admitted that at one point their dog caused a distraction.

Unrestrained animals are placed in harm’s way, but so are their owners in the event of a crash, according to a representative from the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  To avoid danger, consumers are advised to head to any pet store and buy restraints that comply with guidelines.  Such devices can include harnesses and travel crates.

Laws regarding unrestrained animals vary depending on the state.  The distracted driving laws already in place in states like Maine, Connecticut, and Arizona allow officers to cite a person with a dog on their lap.  Hawaii has a law which specifically forbids the practice.  Rhode Island has legislation pending, and New Jersey law enforcement officials can pull over anyone if they suspect an animal isn’t being transported properly.

Lawmakers in Rhode Island are currently considering legislation that would ban drivers from holding a dog on their laps while operating a moving motor vehicle, in an effort to reduce distracted driving. A bill has been submitted to the House Judiciary Committee proposes authorizing law enforcement officials to issue citations to motorists driving while holding dogs on their laps. The offense would be punishable by $85 fine for the first occurrence, a $100 fine for the second occurrence and a $125 fine for each additional occurrence.

According to a survey conducted by AAA based on answers from 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their dogs in the previous year, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted letting a dog sit in their laps while they drove and 31 percent admitted to being distracted from their driving responsibilities by having dog in the car, no matter where the dog rode. Lawmakers in Tennessee are also considering a similar prohibition on driving while holding a dog in your lap. The California legislature voted to pass a similar ban in 2008, but the governor would not sign the bill into law.

As a Ventura personal injury lawyer, I am well aware of the harm that can result when drivers even momentarily take their eyes and minds away from the road ahead of them. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident linked to distracted driving, please consider hiring a Ventura car accident attorney.

According to news sources, a recent warning issued by The Food and Drug Administration against chicken jerky dog treats imported from China came as a response to an increasing number of reports regarding dog illnesses associated with the products.

The warning is the third ever issued by the FDA in regards to the chicken jerky products. It correlates with a recent, 2011 spike in reports regarding dog illnesses in association with the chicken jerky products. The FDA has issued such warnings before, once in September 2007 and another time in December 2008. The recent warning comes in contrast to the last two years, when a drop off in the number of illnesses were reported.

The FDA has received over 350 reports of dog illnesses due to the consumption of chicken jerky products this year alone. The products were imported mainly from China.

Dog owners are encouraged to check with their veterinarian right away, if their dogs experience any severe side effects within 24 hours of consuming chicken jerky products.

As a Long Beach personal injury lawyer, I understand the inherent dangers of defective products and the risks they entail. I hope this information can help raise awareness among dog owners. If you or a loved one has been injured through the use or consumption of a defective product, speak with a personal injury attorney Long Beach to learn about the legal options available to you.

The project proposing a dog beach to the Santa Monica area has been allegedly denied by the California State Parks, according to local news articles.

Despite all efforts, state officials claimed that a 6-1 vote from the Santa Monica City Council will not be enough to pull this project through. The movement ‘Heal the Bay’ expressed severe concerns about the fecal bacteria that could be deliberately spread in the water because of the presence of dogs in the region.

A meeting was held by the Community and Cultural Services so a memo could be furnished and delivered to the Santa Monica City Council demonstrating the many issues that could be directly linked to the creation of a dog beach.

The Director from the Community and Cultural Services stated that the fear of threatening species in the sensitive ecosystem that the beach is may be the first and most important reason a dog beach should not be allowed to turn into a reality for the city of Santa Monica.

Personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles understand that a dog park could also cause major health risks to the safety of visitors and beach goers.

As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I hope that the city of Santa Monica will have its residents as well as the environment in mind when making a decision regarding this controversial issue.

According to many news sources, the Los Angeles City Council is trying to find an effective way to deal with unlicensed dogs that happen to be a nuisance to the city residents. As stated by the articles, the law only allows inspectors to take any action against a dog’s license. Since much of the disturbance reported in the past is directly involved with unlicensed dogs, there isn’t much the authorities can do except to force owners to get their dogs licensed.

There is a new hearing scheduled in the City Council addressing the procedure and fine process related to problem animals. The suggested code permits officials to conduct hearings even if the owner of the dog causing troubles doesn’t have any type of license.

Owners of loud or violent dogs will be cited under the new code being proposed by officials. Dog owners who own animals with a history of biting and injuring others will also be restricted because their permit will change.

As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer I’m familiar with tragic cases involving violent animals. I sincerely hope that this new code may help secure the lives of those who have been threatened by this problem before and if in any case you or a loved one is involved in a potential case regarding problem dogs, don’t hesitate  and call a personal injury lawyer in your area.

Although traveling with your canine friends in the back of a pickup truck may seem easy and convenient, and perhaps even fun for the dog, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals strongly warns against it, according to recent news sources.

“When you drive with a loose dog in the back of your truck, you’re taking a huge risk and placing your dog and other motorists in danger,” says the vice president of a regional AAA. “Even if a dog is trained, we’re talking about an animal who responds to stimuli on impulse. This irresponsible decision can start a deadly chain reaction on the road.”

The practice of transporting unrestrained pets in low-sided truck beds has been outlawed in California, New Hampshire, and Indianapolis, Cheyenne, and Miami-Dade.

As a car accident attorney in Los Angeles, I hope that all pet owners will take steps to restrain their pets, both for the safety of the animal as well as for the safety of other drivers. In my experience as a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I’ve realized that often accidents are caused by external factors, such as maintenance issues or road blockages. By making sure you are keeping your pet safe, you are also keeping other motorists and yourself safe.