According to a study done in 2022 by the American Pet Products Association, about 65.1 million American households own a dog. That’s between 70 and 80 million canine pets in this country.
While Colorado doesn’t rank among the top 10 states in dog ownership, anyone walking city streets or through the parks knows Coloradans love their dogs!
But do Colorado’s dogs love us back?
Most dogs don’t appear to pose a threat, but DogsBite.org has documented 81 dog attack fatalities in 2021, which is the highest ever recorded in a year. They also found that dog bites in the Southern region were the most common, with 37 deaths in 2021.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that dogs bite 4.5 million people annually. Of those bitten, 800,000 received medical attention. Children are the most likely to get bitten. Additionally, the average payment by insurance companies to settle a dog bite claim goes up every year, with the most recent data in 2022 showing that insurance companies had $1,136 million in claims.
Neither Pit Bulls nor Rottweilers rank in the top 10 dog breeds owned in Colorado. As of 2022, the German Shepard is the most popular dog breed in Colorado.
However, any dog can be aggressive. That’s why dog owners must take responsibility for their pets. Colorado has a “strict liability” legal standard for dog owners. They can be civilly liable for injuries caused by a dog bite or attack, even if the dog had no history of that kind of behavior. If the owner was aware of the dog’s aggressive tendency or violated dog control laws (like letting a dog run free), the owner may have to pay non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Dog bites and attacks shouldn’t be ignored or forgiven any more readily than a person-to-person assault. If you, your child, or another loved one has been the victim of a dog attack, please seek medical attention as well as legal guidance.
Our dog bite attorneys have been representing victims of dog bites for more than 50 years. Contact the Frickey Law Firm today for a free case evaluation.