Dog Attacking Police Officer Shot and Killed

Police in Florida responding to reports of a dog that was loose and attacking people shot and killed a pit bull in the Orlando area this week, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel.

According to a recent Oregon government report on animal bites, “each year, nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, and nearly 25% of those bitten require medical attention.” In the Florida case, two officers answered a call after local residents reported dog attacks. The Sentinel quoted police official reports which stated that upon arriving at the address the officers tried to capture the dog, but were forced to shoot it after it attempted to attack them. It was, the paper reports, the second such incident in the Orlando area in a month.

Though dogs are often beloved pets, owners have a responsibility to keep them under control, lest they become a danger to the wider neighborhood. Last year, an Oregon state study using data from June 2002 to July 2003 found records of 636 Multnomah County dog bites – a surprisingly high number, even for Oregon’s most populous county. Boys age 5-9 were the most likely to be bitten, according to the survey. This Portland dog bite data highlights the importance of strong legal representation by an experienced Oregon dog bite attorney should you or a member of your family become the victim of an Oregon dog attack.

Dog bites, according to the State public health division, account for 85-90% of all animal bites requiring emergency room treatment. A Portland dog attack attorney can be a key ally in winning the compensation you deserve in the wake of a biting incident.

Orlando Sentinel: Pit-bull attack: OPD officer shoots, kills attacking dog

Oregon Department of Human Services – Public Health Division: May 2009 Newsletter on Animal Bites

50 SW Pine St 3rd Floor Portland, OR 97204 Telephone: (503) 226-3844 Fax: (503) 943-6670 Email: matthew@mdkaplanlaw.com
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