Citrus County Injury Attorney Blog
Citrus County authorities have released details about a baby killed by a family pet dog.
The incident happened two weeks ago at a home on West Ranchetta Street in Dunnellon.
According to the family, the pit bull jumped onto a bed next to a cradle where the girl was located and attacked the infant while the grandmother was in another room.
When family members realized what happened, the child’s grandfather began performing CPR on the child, and help was called.
The child was airlifted to a local hospital but died about 90 minutes later. The county’s Animal Control unit took control of the dog, which has been euthanized.
The death was ruled accidental.
According to reports, from 1982 to December 31, 2017, there were 389 reported deaths from a pit bull attack. In 2017, 12 different dog breeds caused fatalities, including Akita, Boxer mix, and German Shepherds. A 5-year study conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that 50.9% of dog bites to children were from pit bulls. The next most common occurrence was from Rottweilers at 8.9%.
Pit bulls are just a small fraction of the dogs that bite each year. With almost 80 million dogs in the US, it is important to be educated on proper dog safety, especially if you have children sharing the home with a dog.
All dogs can be dangerous, not just pit bulls. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a dog attack, you may be able to file a negligence claim against the owner of the dog. This includes someone who is keeping the dog, has the dog under their care or allows the dog to be on their personal premise.
Our Citrus County Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton understand that it may be difficult to comprehend the specific laws surrounding dog-related personal injury lawsuits. We urge you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have. Call us 24/7 at 352-726-0078 or contact us online for a free consultation.